Susanna Before Daniel, plate 3 from Thrones of Justice (Thronus Iustitiae)
Medium
Engraving on ivory laid paper
Dimensions
Plate: 28.9 × 39.2 cm (11 7/16 × 15 7/16 in.); sheet: 32.7 × 41.6 cm (12 7/8 × 16 7/16 in.)
Classification
Department
Prints and Drawings
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
268602
Art Historical Context
Willem van Swanenburgh’s engraving *Susanna Before Daniel* captures a pivotal moment from the biblical Book of Daniel, where the virtuous Susanna is vindicated by the young prophet’s wise judgment. Created in 1606 as the third plate in the series *Thronus Iustitiae* (Thrones of Justice), the print belongs to a tradition of moral imagery designed to illustrate divine and human justice. Such series were popular in the early modern period, offering viewers clear visual lessons on fairness, integrity, and the perils of false accusation. Executed as a detailed engraving on ivory laid paper, the wo...