Commentary on the Apocalypse and commentary on the Book of Daniel
Purchased by J. Pierpont Morgan (1837-1913) in 1910
Zone 1:
Apocalypse: Seal I, White Horse; and Seal II, Red Horse; (Revelation 6:1-8) -- Lamb of God holding cross-staff?, in medallion flanked by two winged and nimbed Beasts (lion and angel) with human bodies on wheels, each grasping hand of John nimbed, twice represented; below, helmeted rider shooting arrow from bow, mounted on white horse; helmeted? rider holding sword, mounted on red horse, with inscription EQUUM ROSEUM ET QUI SEDEBAT SUPER EUM HABEBAT GLADIUM.
Zone 2:
Apocalypse: Seal III, Black Horse and Seal IV, Pale Horse (Revelation 6:1-8) -- Two winged Beasts (ox and eagle), pearled nimbi, with human bodies on wheels, each grasped by John, twice represented, once wearing pearled nimbus, once with plain nimbus; below, nimbed rider on black horse, holding scales with inscription EQUUM NIGER ET QUI SEDEBAT SUPER EUM HABEBAT STATERAM; nimbed rider on pale horse followed by winged Personification of Hell; starred background.
And I saw that the Lamb had opened one of the seven seals. And I heard one of the four living creatures saying, "Draw near and see." And I saw a white horse, and the rider was holding a bow, and a crown was given to him, and he went forth conquering. And when he opened the second seal, the second living creature spoke. And a red horse went forth, and it was granted to its rider that he would take peace from the earth, and that they would kill one another. And a great sword was given to him. And when he opened the third seal, the third living creature spoke. And he saw a black horse, and its rider was holding a balance in his hand. And when he opened the fourth seal, the fourth living creature spoke. And I saw a pale horse, and the rider's name was Death, and Hell was following him. And authority was given to him over the four parts of the earth, to destroy by the sword, by famine, and by death. (Rev. 6:1–8)
As the lamb opens each of the seals, one of the living creatures takes John by the hand and lifts him into the air. Curiously, the first two horsemen seem to fight one another; they wear helmets with nose protectors. The other two horsemen have halos. Hell is shown as a hairy blue figure, deriving from the belief that demons were made of air.