Who created "Design for a Knife Handle with a Scene from the Book of Tobit"?

Design for a Knife Handle with a Scene from the Book of Tobit was created by Johann Theodor de Bry in 1580–1600.

What medium is "Design for a Knife Handle with a Scene from the Book of Tobit"?

Design for a Knife Handle with a Scene from the Book of Tobit is Engraving and blackwork.

Is "Design for a Knife Handle with a Scene from the Book of Tobit" in the public domain?

Yes, Design for a Knife Handle with a Scene from the Book of Tobit is in the public domain and available for free download under CC0 license.

Design for a Knife Handle with a Scene from the Book of Tobit

Q: When was "Design for a Knife Handle with a Scene from the Book of Tobit" created?

This artwork was created 1580–1600.

Johann Theodor de Bry

1580–1600

Medium

Engraving and blackwork

Dimensions

Sheet: 5 3/16 × 4 11/16 in. (13.2 × 11.9 cm)

Classification

Prints|Ornament & Architecture

Department

Drawings and Prints

Museum

Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY

Credit

Gift of Lucien Goldschmidt, 1977

Accession Number

1977.558.9

Tags

Hilts

Art Historical Context

This delicate engraving by Johann Theodor de Bry, created between 1580 and 1600, offers a window into the Renaissance fascination with merging art and everyday utility. Designed as a template for a knife handle, or hilt, the print features a scene from the Book of Tobit, a biblical tale of faith and divine protection. At just over five inches tall, the work exemplifies how artists of the period transformed functional objects into miniature narratives, blending storytelling with craftsmanship. De Bry, part of a renowned family of engravers, employed a combination of fine-line engraving and bla...

About the Artist

Johann Theodor de Bry · 1561–1923

Comment on works: copper engraver

Design for a Knife Handle with a Scene from the Book of Tobit

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