The Vision of Saint John - El Greco

In Vision of the Apocalypse, El Greco depicts the opening of the fifth seal described in Revelation 6:9-11, where the souls of the martyrs are finally shown celebrating their glorious union with Christ, in whom their life and mission are fulfilled. These elongated, dynamic figures, wrapped in ethereal luminosity, are the tangible expression of transcendence and the meaning of suffering as a path to new life, proclaiming love for one's enemy—an echo and renewal of the life and passion of Christ that is made new in every generation.

The resurrection of the dead at the Last Judgment, which will be in both body and soul, is hinted at here through the bodily exaltation of the heavenly figures, offering a visual anticipation of the eschatological promise. Far from adhering to Renaissance naturalism, El Greco employs Mannerism to blur the boundaries between the earthly and the divine, with a composition that ascends vertically toward a sky charged with spiritual drama. This canvas does not narrate a literal event, but instead interprets the eternal triumph over evil—a message that aligns with the teachings of the Counter-Reformation, centered on the saving role of the Church. Influenced by his Byzantine heritage, the artist fuses Christian symbolism with a Venetian palette and Tintoretto-like dynamism, creating a unique visual language that connects the apocalyptic with the personal. This masterpiece is an allegory that speaks of love and hope, where the souls of the martyrs are another Christ, proclaiming universal reconciliation before the divine Judgment.