The Two Elders Stoned by the People

Art Historical Context

In the National Gallery of Art's Rosenwald Collection, Heinrich Aldegrever's *The Two Elders Stoned by the People* (1555) is a etching that captures a dramatic biblical scene from the Book of Daniel the Apocrypha. image depicts the punishment of two lecherous elders who falsely accused the virtuous Susanna of adultery; exposed by the young Daniel, they face stoning by an outraged crowd. Aldegver, a German artist from Soest active during the Northern Renaissance, was renowned as one of the "Little Masters" for his masterful small-scale prints filled with intricate detail and moral intensity. Created in the turbulent era of the Protestant Reformation, this work reflects the era's emphasis on biblical justice and divine retribution, themes Aldegrever often explored in his religious prints. His precise line work and dynamic composition heighten the tension, drawing viewers into the chaotic mob scene while underscoring themes of truth triumphing over corruption—a resonant message amid 16th-century religious upheavals. Etching, the medium here, allowed Aldegrever to achieve fluid, expressive lines through acid-etched copper plates, a technique gaining popularity for its versatility over traditional engraving. This Department CG-E print exemplifies his technical prowess, making complex narratives accessible and affordable to a wide audience through reproduction. A testament to Renaissance printmaking's cultural impact, it invites us to ponder timeless lessons of morality and justice.

About the Artist

Heinrich Aldegrever · 1502–1561

Heinrich Aldegrever, born in 1502 in Paderborn, Westphalia, to parents Herman and Katherine Trippenmeker—a family of clog-makers known by the dialect name Trippenmecker—emerged as a multifaceted artist in the German Renaissance. His early training remains undocumented, though he likely apprenticed in a Soest goldsmith's workshop after relocating there around 1525, where he joined the painters' gui...