Susanna and the Elders
1624
Medium
Engraving in black on ivory laid paper
Dimensions
Image: 34.5 × 27.8 cm (13 5/8 × 11 in.); Plate: 36.8 × 28.6 cm (14 1/2 × 11 5/16 in.); Sheet: 42.2 × 32.7 cm (16 5/8 × 12 7/8 in.)
Classification
engraving
Department
Prints and Drawings
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
223277
Art Historical Context
In the Prints and Drawings department of the Institute of Chicago, Paulius's 1624 *Susanna and the* brings to life a tense biblical narrative from the Book of Daniel The scene portrays the virtuous Susanna bathing, spied upon by two corrupt elders whose false accusations lead to her dramatic vindication. Pontius, a skilled Flemish engraver of the Baroque era (1603–1658), the figures with dynamic tension and emotional intensity, characteristic of the period's emphasis on dramatic light, movement, and human drama. Crafted as an engraving in black ink on ivory laid paper—measuring an impressive ...