The Angel with the Key to the Bottomless Pit

From Apocalipsis cum Figuris (Apocalypse)

Illustrated by Albrecht Dürer

Dürer's The Angel with the Key to the Bottomless Pit depicts one element of the ecstatic vision experienced by St John,

wherein Satan is bound to the Bottomless Pit.

Mrs Charles W Heaton (The History of the Life of Albrecht Durer of Nurnberg with a Translation of His Letters and

Journal and Some Accounts of His Work: Seeley, Jackson and Halliday, London; 1881), in an early comprehensive

biographical work, provides the following description of this wonderful illustration:

The key of the bottomless pit that the angel holds in his hands is of enormous size,

with a bunch of little keys (perhaps of the separate cells in hell) tied through the
handle. A beautiful city in the background represents the Heavenly Jerusalem,

'whose light is the glory of God' and in the foreground, on a hill above the Angel

and the Dragon, we again have the Seer of all these visions accompanied by one

of the elders, who declares to him their signification. St John is always represented

by Dürer as a powerful young, or middle-aged man, and never as the aged Prophet

of Patmos.

Our Greeting Cards and Reproduction Prints

Should you wish to order a Reproduction Print or an individual Greeting Card of this image, we have provided

some options below. Of course, should you wish to discuss some customised options, we welcome your contact

on any matter through ThePeople@SpiritoftheAges.com.

In the meantime, enjoy perusing this glorious illustration by Albrecht Dürer.

The illustration

	Single Greeting Card (with matching Envelope) Code: AD AKBP SGC Price: US$5.00   Reproduction on 8x12" sheet Code: AD AKBP (8x12) Price: US$30.00     Reproduction on 12x18" sheet Code: AD AKBP(12x18) Price: US$60.00

Some details from the illustration

The Angel with the key	Satan interred