Torture of St John the Evangelist 1487-1502 Fresco Strozzi Chapel, Santa Maria Novella, Florence

The Torture of St John the Evangelist is in the lunette above the scene of St John the Evangelist Resuscitating Drusiana on the left wall of the chapel.

The torture of John the Evangelist takes place in a splendidly decorated courtyard. On orders from Emperor Domitian he was placed in a cauldron of boiling oil near the Porta Latina, but emerged unharmed. One of the soldiers is poking the fire so strenuously that another, in the group on the right, about to throw more wood on it, has to protect his face with his hand, and a third screens himself with his shield. At this moment the emperor has risen from his seat and extended his arm, bringing a stop to the torture.

Maii 6. S. JOANNIS APOSTOLI ANTE PORTAM LATINAM. AD PRIMAS ET SECUNDAS VESPERAS. Urbem Romuleam quis furor incitat?

Christi discipulus Caesare judice

Damnatus rapitur: nil venerabilis

Frontis canities movet.

In fervens olei conjicitur mare:

Nil aestus nocuit, flamma sed hospiti

Parcit blanda suo; ceu pugil ungitur,

Hinc et fortior exilit.

[120] Edicto steriles pulsus in insulas

Exul tunc socio perfruitur Deo:

Hic ventura videt, quae calamo notans

Sublustri nebula tegit.

Sic nos Christus amet, sic doceat pati;

Discamusque mori, simus ut et necis

Sacrae participes: non aliis patet

Coelum conditionibus.

Patri maxima laus, maxima Filio,

Amborumque sacro maxima Flamini:

Haec est certa fides, fontibus e tuis

Quam divinitus hausimus.

AD LAUDES. Jussu tyranni pro fide

Pulsus, Joannes, exulas:

Fertur volatu libero

Mens celsa supra sidera.

Illic revelat se tibi

Qui mortuus vivit Deus,

Agnus salutis hostia,

Et morte devicta leo.

Arcana te vatem docet

Regni sui mysteria:

Pandit cruore Martyrum

Ubique spargendam fidem.

[121] Da, Christe, nos tecum mori;

Tecum simul da surgere;

Terrena da contemnere;

Amare da coelestia.

Sit laus Patri; laus Filio,

Qui nos, triumphata nece,

Ad astra secum dux vocat:

Compar tibi laus, Spiritus.