The Flood destroys life on earth: corpses of humans and animals adrift in the foreground, Noah's ark beyond and a flying dove holding a branch above, from "Liber Genesis"
Medium
Engraving
Dimensions
Sheet: 3 3/8 x 5 1/4 in. (8.6 x 13.3 cm) Plate: 3 3/16 x 5 1/16 in. (8.1 x 12.9 cm)
Classification
Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Bequest of Phyllis Massar, 2011
Accession Number
2012.136.714.5
Tags
Art Historical Context
In this poignant engraving from Crispijn de Passe the Elder's *Liber Genesis* series (1612), the biblical Flood unleashes devastation: foreground corpses of humans and animals float amid turbulent waters, while Noah's ark sails distantly and a dove clutches an olive branch overhead, symbolizing divine mercy and renewal. Measuring just over 3 by 5 inches, this intimate print captures the Genesis narrative's drama on a tiny scale, inviting contemplation. De Passe, a masterful Flemish engraver active during the early Dutch Golden Age, excelled in detailed reproductive prints that popularized rel...