Job Receiving the Messengers, from "Dalziels' Bible Gallery"

Art Historical Context

This wood engraving, titled *Job Receiving the Messengers*, depicts a dramatic scene from the Book of Job in which the central figure learns profound loss. Created between 1876 and 1881 as part of the landmark *Dalziels’ Bible Gallery*, the print resulted from a major Victorian publishing venture that brought together leading artists and engravers to illustrate key biblical narratives for a wide audience. The work reflects the collaborative process typical of the period, with William Small providing the design and the Dalziel Brothers—renowned specialists in wood engraving—executing the fine lines on the block. Printed on India paper mounted on thin card, the technique allowed for rich tonal contrasts and delicate detail, qualities that made wood engravings the dominant medium for high-quality book illustration in the late nineteenth century. Now in the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection of prints, the image exemplifies how art and technology joined to make sacred stories accessible beyond church walls, preserving both the emotional intensity of the biblical account and the refined craftsmanship of Victorian graphic art.

About the Artist

Camden Press|Scribner and Welford|Dalziel Brothers|William Small (British|American|British) · 1857 |1800 |1839 –1893 |1899 |1893

British, London|New York, NY|British, active 1839–93