Plate 25, from Landscapes with Scenes from the Old and New Testament and Ovid’s Metamorphoses

Art Historical Context

Hans Bol's *Plate 25, from Landscapes with Scenes from the Old New Testament and Ovid’soses* (1574) exemplifies the Flemish artist's mastery of intricate printmaking during the late Northern Renaissance. As a prominent Antwerp-based painter and etcher, Bol created this series to weave biblical narratives alongside classical myths from Ovid, reflecting the era's humanist fascination with antiquity and scripture. This plate, like others in the set, features a detailed landscape framing dramatic vignettes, blending sacred and secular stories in a harmonious, almost theatrical composition. Etched on delicate ivory laid paper—a fine, textured support prized for its clarity— the work measures a compact plate size of 12.5 × 18.5 cm, ideal for collectors and study. Etching, a relatively new technique in the 1570s, allowed Bol greater spontaneity than traditional engraving, resulting in fluid lines and atmospheric depth that evoke the rolling hills and bustling scenes of 16th-century Flanders. Housed in the Art Institute of Chicago's Prints and Drawings Department, it highlights the boom in reproductive prints that democratized art for Europe's burgeoning middle class. This piece captures a pivotal moment when Antwerp was Europe's printmaking capital, amid religious upheaval from the Reformation. Bol's fusion of Old Testament, New Testament, and pagan lore underscores the cultural dialogue of the time, inviting viewers to ponder timeless human dramas amid idyllic yet symbolic landscapes. A gem for print enthusiasts!

About the Artist

Hans Bol · 1534–1593

Hans Bol (1534–1593) was a Netherlandish painter, draftsman, and miniaturist known for his exquisite landscape compositions and detailed miniature paintings. Born in Mechelen (Malines) in the Spanish Netherlands, he trained there and became a member of the Guild of Saint Luke. His early career was disrupted by the religious upheavals of the Dutch Revolt; the sack of Mechelen in 1572 forced him to ...