Rome / Illumination at the commencement of the gospel of S. John

Rome / Illumination at the commencement of the gospel of S. John. The evangelist seated, about to write in a book at the dictation of his symbolical eagle, also holding an open book in the clouds. The long rainbow-like scroll is inscribed: “More volans aquile verbo petit astra Iohannes” - “In the manner of a flying eagle, John seeks the stars for the word,” an allusion to the doctrinal character of his gospel.