Boiling Oil

John the Apostle stands barefoot on a tiled pavement as oil runs from the hem of his garment and pools around his feet. The close, restrained composition centers on the aftermath of a punishment rather than the violence itself, presenting the apostle preserved through suffering. In Christian tradition, John was condemned to boiling oil and emerged unharmed, a testimony to divine protection and faithful witness under persecution. The dripping oil, wet stone, and unburned feet emphasize the miracle: human cruelty is unable to overcome the servant kept by God.