De ouderlingen worden gestenigd

About this artwork

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Art Historical Context

Heinrich Aldegrever's *De ouderlingen worden gestenigd* (The Elders are Stoned), created in 1555, is a striking engraving depicting a dramatic biblical scene from the Book of Daniel. The title refers to the punishment of the two lecherous elders who falsely accused the virtuous Susanna, a story of justice and divine retribution popular in Renaissance religious art. Aldegrever, a prolific German engraver from the "Little Masters" group, masterfully captures the moment of their stoning, blending moral allegory with vivid narrative tension. Measuring just 114 mm high by 81 mm wide, this intimate engraving exemplifies the technical prowess of 16th-century printmaking. Engraving allowed Aldegrever to incise fine lines into a copper plate, producing richly detailed images that could be widely disseminated—a revolutionary medium during the Reformation era. His precise burin work renders expressive faces, dynamic figures, and textured clothing, making the small scale feel monumental. As a Protestant artist in the Holy Roman Empire, Aldegrever often infused his works with themes of piety and judgment, reflecting the religious upheavals of 1555. This piece not only showcases Renaissance mastery of line and composition but also served as affordable devotional art for households, inviting viewers to ponder virtue amid turmoil. A gem for any collection!

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...