Jonah Cast on Shore by the Fish

Art Historical Context

In the late 16th century, artists Antonius Wierix II andonymus Wierix, renowned engravers from Antwerp, collaborated with painter Maerten de Vos to create *Jonah Cast on Shore the Fish* around 1585. This intricate engraving captures a pivotal biblical moment from the Book of Jonah, where the is dramatically expelled onto dry land by the great fish after three days in its belly—a vivid symbol of divine mercy and resurrection. Produced during the Counter-Reformation such religious prints played a key role in spreading Catholic imagery across Europe, making grand artistic visions accessible to a wider audience beyond the elite. The artwork exemplifies the Wierix brothers' mastery of engraving, a meticulous technique involving incised lines on a copper plate to produce richly detailed images. Measuring 7 1/2 × 9 13/16 inches, the sheet reveals their signature precision in rendering dynamic figures, turbulent waves, and the interplay of men and sea creatures, as hinted by its tags. De Vos's design likely infused Mannerist elegance—elongated forms and expressive drama—hallmarks of the Antwerp school. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department, this piece from The Elisha Whittelsey Collection highlights how engravings democratized art, blending spiritual storytelling with technical virtuosity for devotional reflection.