Cain Killing Abel, c.1589

Not on View

Medium

engraving on laid paper

Dimensions

plate: 35.1 x 41.8 cm (13 13/16 x 16 7/16 in.)

sheet: 36.5 x 44.5 cm (14 3/8 x 17 1/2 in.)

Credit Line

Gift of Ruth Cole Kainen

Catalogue Raisonné

New Hollstein, no. 29, State only

Accession Number

2012.92.573

Artists / Makers

Jan Muller (artist) Netherlandish, 1571 - 1628

Cornelis Cornelisz van Haarlem (artist after) Dutch, 1562 - 1638

Herman Jansz Muller (publisher) Netherlandish, c. 1540 - 1617

Image Use

This image is in the public domain.
Read our full Open Access policy for images .

Inscription

below image, at left: Cor. Cornelij Harlemen / inuentor. / & Johan. Muller sculptor; below image, at right: Harmannus Muller / excudebat Amsterodamj; below image: Impius, eccè, Cain fratrem ingulauit Abelem, / Innocuo humectans sanguine primus hutmum. / Prò dolor! ex illo quot in orbe fuere Tyranni, / Queis terra innocuo tota cruore madet.; by later hand, lower verso in graphite: Kain sodlet Abel; M.C. Cornelis B29; by later hand, right verso in graphite: W/quod

Provenance

Ruth Kainen, Washington, D.C., purchased either 1989 or 1998; [1] Gift to NGA, 2012.

The Kainens bought two impressions of this composition: one on May 15, 1989 from Hill-Stone and another on November 11, 1998 from Helmut Rumbler. There is no clear indication which impression they donated, although one could assume that the Rumbler impression was finer, and so the Kainens donated the later purchase.

Associated Names

Hill-Stone, Inc.
Kainen, Jacob, Mrs.
Rumbler, Helmut H., Mr.

Exhibition History

2013: Northern Mannerist Prints from the Kainen Collection, NGA, 2013 - 2014.

Bibliography

1949: Hollstein, F.W.H. et al. Dutch and Flemish etchings, engravings and woodcuts, ca. 1450-1700. Vols. I-XV, XVIII, XIX. Amsterdam: Menno Hertzberger, no. 8, only

1993: The New Hollstein Dutch & Flemish Etchings, Engravings and Woodcuts, 1450-1700. (The Muller Dynasty, Jan Piet Filedt Kok, author). Rotterdam: Sound & Vision Interactive, 1996-, no. 29, only