The Apocalypse and the Shape of Things to Come

"The Book of Revelation", with its vision of an apocalypse that is both destructive and redemptive, has provided a rich vein of imagery which remains a force in contemporary culture. This work examines the depiction of the Apocalypse in the visual arts over nearly 1000 years. after the great medieval manuscripts cycles, the pivotal point in the development of the pictorial tradition was Durer's famous set of woodcuts, published in 1498. Apocalyptic imagery was quickly exploited for propaganda and satire by artists such as James Gillray, while Gillray's contemporary William Blake used it as part of a personal mythology that pervaded every aspect of his work. In the 20th century apocalyptic metaphor has been a powerful vehicle for visions of worldly and spiritual devastation and regeneration, particularly through the medium of cinema. As the century, and with it the second millennium AD, comes to an end, this is an appropriate moment to re-evaluate the legacy of one of the most vivid and controversial texts of all time. Including essays by seven distinguished scholars and detailed discussions of approximately 240 works of art, the book is illustrated throughout.