Tony Cousins: ‘Poussin: St John on Patmos (1640)’ and ‘A Winter’s Afternoon in Millthorpe’

Tony Cousins: ‘Poussin: St John on Patmos (1640)’ and ‘A Winter’s Afternoon in Millthorpe’

Poussin: St John on Patmos (1640) The island-prison is an ideal landscape. But in the middle distance there are ruins Bordering a neat, dystopian town, Their outlines jagged even in the soft Afternoon light. And, beyond them, soars An obelisk, vainly defying time. A picturesque world in slow decay. In the foreground sits a prisoner, robed Incongruously (one might think) in gold. But that’s no error: he inscribes, obsessed, Shards of eternity int…