Michaeas

Art Historical Context

This engraving titled *Michaeas*, created by Theodor Galle after a design by Jan van deret and published in 1613, portrays the Old Testament prophet Micah. Galle, a skilled Flemish printmaker, translated van der Straet’s composition into the precise lines of an engraving on laid paper. The result is a compact yet expressive image measuring just 17.4 by 12.7 centimeters in the plate, demonstrating how artists of the period used printmaking to circulate religious subjects widely. Jan van der Straet, also known as Stradanus, was a Flemish artist active in Florence whose inventive designs were frequently adapted by engravers like Galle. Such collaborations were central to the Northern European print trade in the early seventeenth century, allowing devotional imagery to reach audiences beyond the original drawing or painting. The fine cross-hatching and delicate modeling typical of engraving lent the figure a sculptural presence despite the modest scale. Acquired by the National Gallery of Art through the Ailsa Mellon Bruce Fund, this print exemplifies the enduring appeal of prophetic imagery during the Counter-Reformation. Its crisp technique and portable format made it both an object of private devotion and a collectible work of art, preserving van der Straet’s vision for centuries.