Circumcision
This engraving belongs to a series, Salus generis humani (Salvation of Mankind), depicting thirteen scenes from the life of Christ (see 51.501.6467(1-13)). Aegidius Sadeler II based his engraving of the scene at the center on a drawing by Hans von Aachen. The allegorical border is based on designs by Joris Hoefnagel.
This impression has been hand-colored by an unknown artist with opaque watercolor, gold, and now-tarnished silver. The carefully applied watercolor reinforces the underlying engraved desgin (see 51.501.6467(4)), adding depth and emphasizing lighting and contour. At least two other prints with similar coloring from the same series survive, one in The Met's collection (see 17.3.3286).[1] These other surviving sheets suggest that the series may have been colored and preserved as a set.
- Olivia Dill, May 23, 2023
[1] See Susan Dackerman, "Painted Prints in Germany and the Netherlands," in Painted Prints: The Revelation of Color in Northern Renaissance and Baroque Engravings, Etchings and Woodcuts (University Park: Pennsylvania State University Press and Baltimore: Baltimore Museum of Art, 2002), pp. 33-35, which briefly discusses the hand-coloring of this series and reproduces one of the other hand-colored sheets.
This impression has been hand-colored by an unknown artist with opaque watercolor, gold, and now-tarnished silver. The carefully applied watercolor reinforces the underlying engraved desgin (see 51.501.6467(4)), adding depth and emphasizing lighting and contour. At least two other prints with similar coloring from the same series survive, one in The Met's collection (see 17.3.3286).[1] These other surviving sheets suggest that the series may have been colored and preserved as a set.
- Olivia Dill, May 23, 2023
[1] See Susan Dackerman, "Painted Prints in Germany and the Netherlands," in Painted Prints: The Revelation of Color in Northern Renaissance and Baroque Engravings, Etchings and Woodcuts (University Park: Pennsylvania State University Press and Baltimore: Baltimore Museum of Art, 2002), pp. 33-35, which briefly discusses the hand-coloring of this series and reproduces one of the other hand-colored sheets.
Artwork Details
- Title: Circumcision
- Artist: Aegidius Sadeler II (Netherlandish, Antwerp 1568–1629 Prague)
- Artist: After Hans von Aachen (German, Cologne 1552–1616 Prague)
- Artist: After Joris Hoefnagel (Netherlandish, Antwerp 1542–1600 Vienna)
- Date: 1590
- Medium: Hand-colored engraving
- Dimensions: Sheet: 8 3/4 × 6 5/8 in. (22.2 × 16.8 cm)
- Classification: Prints
- Credit Line: Harris Brisbane Dick Fund, 1917
- Object Number: 17.3.3288
- Curatorial Department: Drawings and Prints
More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Multiple artists/makers
1590
Aegidius Sadeler II
Parmigianino (Girolamo Francesco Maria Mazzola)
Aegidius Sadeler II
Roelandt Savery
n.d.
Aegidius Sadeler II
Albrecht Dürer
n.d.
Aegidius Sadeler II
Parmigianino (Girolamo Francesco Maria Mazzola)
n.d.
Research Resources
The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.
To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.
Feedback
We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.