Jahel from Heroes and Heroines of the Old Testament

Art Historical Context

In the late 16th century, engraver Hendrick Goltzius, with assistance from Nicolaes Braeu created *Jahel from Heroes andines of the Old Testament part of a celebrated series depicting biblical figures. This striking engraving, dated around 1597, portrays Jahel (also known as Jael), courageous heroine from the Book of Judges who slew the Canaanite general Sisera by driving a peg through his temple, securing victory for the Israelites. Goltzius's masterful print captures her in an oval frame, emphasizing her poised strength and moral resolve amid the era's fascination with heroic narratives from...