Scenes from Matthew 10: 34-38

Art Historical Context

Daniel Hopner's *Scenes from Matthew 10: 34-38* is a striking early etching that vividly captures the turbulent message of Christ's words in the Gospel: "Do not suppose that I have come to peace to the earth. did not come to bring, but a sword." between 1490 and 1536 by the German artist and armorer from Augsburg, this print depicts dramatic scenes of battles, divided families, and clashing men amid houses, symbolizing the divisions faith can provoke. Hopner, active during the dawn of the Reformation, infused his work with religious intensity, reflecting the era's spiritual fervor. As one of the pioneers of etching—a revolutionary technique Hopner helped popularize around 1500—this 8 1/8 x 10 1/4-inch sheet on iron plate allowed for fluid lines and rich tonal effects, surpassing the rigid precision of engraving. Unlike traditional woodcuts, etching enabled intricate details in dynamic compositions, making biblical narratives accessible to wider audiences through affordable prints. oused in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department, this piece from Elisha Whittelsey Collection highlights Hopner's mastery in blending armorers' precision with artistic innovation, offering visitors a window into Renaissance printmaking's transformative power.

About the Artist

Daniel Hopfer · 1471–1536

Daniel Hopfer (c. 1470–1536), born in Kaufbeuren, was the son of the painter Bartholomäus Hopfer and Anna Sendlerin. He relocated early to Augsburg, becoming a citizen and master painter there in 1493, and trained as an etcher of armor in this thriving center of arms production. By 1505, he owned a house in the city center and served on the guild committee for smiths, which encompassed painters an...