Juda

c. 1585; published 1643

Jan Sadeler I after Crispen van den Broecke

Associated Names
Jan Sadeler I

Artist, Netherlandish, 1550 - 1600

Claes Jansz Visscher

Publisher, Dutch, 1586/1587 - 1652

Crispin van den Broeck

Artist After, Netherlandish, 1523 - c. 1591

The image depicts a man standing in a strong and authoritative position. He is facing slightly to the side, with one hand on his hip and the other holding a scepter. His facial features are defined, and he sports a full beard. His hair is obscured by an ornate helmet adorned with a colorful, feathered plume. He is wearing a golden chest plate and a short, decorative skirt with patches of red and gold. A blue cloak is draped over his shoulders, fastened with a decorative clasp. His sandals are strapped up to his calves, and he stands with one foot forward showcasing muscular legs. Surrounding him is a landscape of green hills leading to a distant medieval town with castles. Majestic snow-capped mountains rise in the background. At his side sits a large, imposing lion, calm but alert, with a detailed and flowing mane. The scene is bordered by text.

Media Options

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    hand-colored engraving on laid paper

  • Credit Line

    Ailsa Mellon Bruce Fund

  • Dimensions

    overall (cut inside platemark): 22 x 14.5 cm (8 11/16 x 5 11/16 in.)

  • Accession Number

    2005.128.5.b

  • Catalogue Raisonné

    Hollstein, no. 67, State ii/ii

Associated Artworks

The image shows a man with his back to the viewer, standing with one arm outstretched to his side. The man has a muscular build and a beard. He wears an ornate gold helmet with blue and green detailing, a green tunic with patterns, a red draped garment, and blue greaves. He is barefoot and holds a flag pole with a blue banner. In the background, there is a battle scene with soldiers and a fortified structure. The ground is grassy and there is text at the bottom of the image.

Levi

Jan Sadeler I, Claes Jansz Visscher

1585

Artwork history & notes

Provenance

(Kunsthandlung Helmut H. Rumbler, Frankfurt am Main); purchased 2005 by NGA.

Associated Names

Bibliography

1949

  • Hollstein, F.W.H. et al. Dutch and Flemish etchings, engravings and woodcuts, ca. 1450-1700. 72 vols. Amsterdam, 1980: XXI (Johannes Sadeler I), no. 67, ii/ii.

1993

  • The New Hollstein Dutch & Flemish Etchings, Engravings and Woodcuts, 1450-1700. (Crispijn van den Broeck, Ursula Mielke, author). Ouderkerk aan den Ijssel: Sound & Vision Publishers, 2011: Part I, no. 55, ii/ii.

Inscriptions

upper center in plate: IUDA; lower right in plate: .4.; in margin below image, in plate: Felix ante alios fratres ego dicor Iuda; / Non mihi uerba pater inuidiosa dedit. / Sed me uictorem dixit, forteq[ue] Leonem. / Hostes qui superet uiribus ecce suos. (I, Juda, am called more fortunate than my brethren. My father has uttered no angry words to me, but has called me victor and brave lion, fo the lion's strength gives him victory over his foes. [translation from Veldman, Ilja M., and H. J. de Jonge, "The sons of Jacob: the twelve patriarchs in sixteenth-century Netherlandish prints and popular literature," Simiolus, vol. 15 (1985), no. 3, p. 195.])

Wikidata ID

Q76343300

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