St John the Evangelist

This undated portrait of Saint John the Evangelist, held in the Nationalmuseum in Stockholm, represents Stanzione's ability to move between the dramatic histories and mythologies for which he was celebrated and the quieter register of apostolic portraiture. John the Evangelist — author of the fourth Gospel, three epistles, and Revelation — was typically depicted in painting as a young, beardless figure, distinguishing him from the older apostles, and often accompanied by an eagle, his traditional symbol, or a chalice referencing the cup of poison from which legend said he was miraculously protected. Stanzione's treatment brings his characteristic elegance to the subject, placing psychological presence above iconographic formula.

The half-length format and warm chiaroscuro characteristic of Stanzione's apostolic portraits are evident here. The young apostle's face is rendered with idealized beauty — smooth skin, clear eyes, thoughtful expression — in keeping with the Johannine tradition. Any symbolic attributes present are handled without detracting from the figure's human immediacy.