Jael slaying Sisera
Medium
Engraving and etching
Dimensions
sheet: 10 1/2 x 7 3/16 in. (26.6 x 18.3 cm) plate: 8 3/8 x 5 13/16 in. (21.2 x 14.8 cm)
Classification
Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Elisha Whittelsey Collection, The Elisha Whittelsey Fund, 1951
Accession Number
51.501.2613
Tags
Art Historical Context
This engraving and etching captures the dramatic biblical scene of Jael slaying Sisera, a powerful narrative of courage and divine justice drawn from the Book of Judges. The composition highlights the intense confrontation between the female protagonist and the defeated warrior, using expressive figures and dynamic poses to convey both tension and resolution. Created between 1705 and 1762, the print reflects the enduring popularity of Old Testament stories in European art during the Baroque and early Rococo periods. The work represents a collaboration between Italian painter Carlo Maratti, kn...
About the Artist
Carlo Maratti|Johann Georg Bergmüller · 1625–1713
Son of a Dalmatian father. Known as the last major Italian artist of the classical tradition, which had originated with Raphael. He created a grandiose and decorative style that was valued by his ecclesiastical patrons. Comment on works: History; Religious.