Lot en zijn dochters

About this artwork

plaatrand: hoogte 113 mm x breedte 81 mm

Art Historical Context

Heinrich Aldegre's *Lot en zijn dochters* (Lot and His Daughters), created in 1555, a dramatic biblical scene from Genesis 19. The engraving depicts Lot, the righteous man spared from Sodom's destruction, unwittingly seduced by his daughters in a cave to ensure their lineage's survival—a morally complex tale of desperation and sin. Aldegrever, a prominent German artist from the Northern Renaissance and one of the "Little Masters specialized in such small-scale prints, infusing them with intricate detail and moral introspection. This engraving, measuring just 113 mm high by 81 mm wide, exemplifies the technical prowess of 16th-century engraving. Using fine burin lines, Aldegrever achieved remarkable depth, texture, and narrative clarity in a miniature format, making it ideal for collectors and devotional use. During the Reformation era, such prints democratized art, spreading religious stories and ethical lessons across Europe via affordable reproductions. Aldegrever's late work reflects the era's fascination with human frailty and divine judgment, blending Gothic precision with emerging Renaissance humanism. A testament to his skill as both engraver and goldsmith, this piece invites viewers to ponder timeless questions of morality in an intimate, portable format.

About the Artist

Heinrich Aldegrever · 1502–1561

Heinrich Aldegrever, born in 1502 in Paderborn, Westphalia, to parents Herman and Katherine Trippenmeker—a family of clog-makers known by the dialect name Trippenmecker—emerged as a multifaceted artist in the German Renaissance. His early training remains undocumented, though he likely apprenticed in a Soest goldsmith's workshop after relocating there around 1525, where he joined the painters' gui...