The Beast with the Seven Heads and the Beast with Lamb's Horns

Albrecht Dürer

1511 · Woodcut · Drawings and Prints

In book thirteen of Revelation, John describes two beasts: one that emerges from the sea and has seven heads, and another that springs from the earth and empowers the bigger beast. The seven-headed beast with its ten crowns has been interpreted as the demonic and powerful authority of the state. As it says in Revelation, "They worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? Who is able to make war with him? And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him . . . And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven."

Artist

Albrecht Dürer

Date

1511

Medium

Woodcut

Department

Drawings and Prints

Credit line

Gift of Junius Spencer Morgan, 1919