Commentary on the Apocalypse and commentary on the Book of Daniel
Purchased by J. Pierpont Morgan (1837-1913) in 1910
Apocalypse: Christ and Four Beasts (Revelation 4:1-5) -- Christ beardless, nimbed, book in left hand, rays issuing from body, in cloud mandorla inscribed, DE TRONE PROCEDUNT FULGURA DE UOCES, surrounded by half figures of twenty-four crowned Elders in cloud mandorla flanked by seven hanging lamps; below, John prostrate; darts representing lightning and voices.
After these things, I saw a door was opened in heaven, and the voice that I heard speaking with me first was like a trumpet, saying: "Ascend to here, and I will reveal to you what must occur after these things." And immediately I was in the spirit. And behold, a throne had been placed in heaven, and there was One sitting upon the throne similar in appearance to a stone of jasper and sardius. And there was an iridescence surrounding the throne, in aspect similar to an emerald. And surrounding the throne were twenty-four smaller thrones. And upon the thrones, twenty-four elders were sitting, clothed all around in white vestments, and on their heads were gold crowns. And from the throne, lightnings and voices and thunders went forth. And there were seven burning lamps before the throne, which are the seven spirits of God. (Rev. 4:1–5)
At the lower left, a trancelike John suggests that he is "in the spirit." The "One sitting upon the throne" is Christ. The red rays emanating from Christ, wavy blue and orange clouds, and jutting orange spears suggest the iridescence of the emerald.