An Islamic Prophet Appearing in the Courtyard of a Prison in Alexandria
ca. 1706
Medium
Pen and black ink, brush and gray wash, over a sketch in red chalk, incised for transfer; double framing lines in pen and brown ink, probably by the artist
Dimensions
sheet: 5 5/16 x 7 1/16 in. (13.5 x 17.9 cm)
Classification
Drawings
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Purchase, C. G. Boerner Gift, 2008
Accession Number
2008.228
Tags
About this artwork
Jan Goeree's "An Islamic Prophet Appearing in the Courtyard of a Prison in Alexandria" (ca. 1706) The work, executed in pen and black ink, brush and gray wash, over a sketch in red chalk, incised for transfer; double framing lines in pen and brown ink, probably by the artist, measures sheet: 5 5/16 x 7 1/16 in. and Prints served crucial roles in disseminating artistic ideas and images across geographic and social boundaries. This work provides valuable insights into Jan Goeree's artistic practic...
Art Historical Context
Jan Goeree’s delicate drawing captures a dramatic moment of revelation: an Islamic prophet materializing in the courtyard of a prison in Alexandria. Created around 1706, the small sheet (roughly 5 by 7 inches) presents a lively gathering of figures, dogs, and architectural elements rendered with pen and black ink over red-chalk underdrawing. The careful layering of gray wash gives the scene depth and atmosphere, while the incised lines indicate that Goeree prepared the composition for transfer to a printing plate. This technique underscores the drawing’s practical role in early-eighteenth-cen...
About the Artist
Jan Goeree · 1670–1731
Comment on works: Painter; Draughtsman; Engraver; History; Subjects in landscapes