The Death of Saint John

The mirror-backed case by British artist Damian Hirst is from a series of twelve works titled The Apostles. Each work in the series represents one of Christ's disciples and contains objects that are reminders of the temporary nature of life on earth. In this altar-like modernist box, a human skull, smoked cigarettes, and a burned-down candle speak to the impermanence of life. It also includes items associated with St. John the Evangelist-a small ceramic eagle and chalice-that are emblematic of the disciple's relationship with Jesus. Christ on the Cross with Mary, Saint John, and Two Angels, a 15th century print by Albrecht Glockendon, depicts the waning hours of the Crucifixion, where only Mary and St. John remain with Jesus. Similar scenes were wildly influential in the Middle Ages, urgent reminders that Christ died for Man's sins. To make the message more vivid to his viewers, the artist set the scene against the backdrop of a German city, probably Marienberg. Likewise, Hirst's shiny metal cabinet provides a cool 21st century container for the collection of relics within.