St. Alban the Martyr

The Horsemen of the Apocalypse


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Here we see the Horsemen of the Apocalypse. The front rider is on a white horse and bears a bow and a crown. He is to go forth conquering. Next comes a rider on a red horse with a sword, who is to take peace from the earth. The third rider, holding scales, should be on a black horse, though today it looks little different from the red horse, perhaps having faded from dark brown. He is to control the price of food. The last rider, again on a pale horse, is Death, with power to kill a fourth of the earth.

The text on the scroll held by the angel beneath the scene is "Revelation VI 2“ which reads: "And I saw and behold a white horse and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him, and he went forth conquering and to conquer.”

Above the horsemen the sun has become darkened, while on the ground lie stars which have fallen from heaven, events described in the following verses.

Now look below at the lower right panel, which shows the archangel Michael defeating Satan who is in the form of a great dragon.