Description
The Latin inscription in the bottom corner of the print quotes chapter two of the second Book of Kings (2 Kings 2:23-24) when the Hebrew prophet, Elisha, came upon the children of the city of Bethel who mocked him for his bald head. In the Lord's name Elisha cursed the children and all 42 were killed by two she-bears who emerged from the woods. This obscure Old Testament subject also illustrates an important moral lesson--old age must be respected. Approximating the size and tonal range of paintings by Coninxloo, prints such as these probably served as inexpensive substitutes for paintings.
Provenance
purchased from (Lutz Reister, London)
Accession Number
1996.223
Medium
engraving
Dimensions
Platemark: 46.5 x 58.7 cm (18 5/16 x 23 1/8 in.); Sheet: 47.4 x 59.9 cm (18 11/16 x 23 9/16 in.)
Classification
Credit Line
John L. Severance Fund