Elisha Cursing the Children of Bethel Who Are Being Devoured by the Bears
Medium
engraving
Dimensions
sheet: 47.4 × 59.9 cm · platemark: 46.5 × 58.7 cm
Classification
Department
Prints
Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Credit
John L. Severance Fund
Accession Number
1996.223
Rights
Public Domain
Tags
male
About this artwork
The Latin inscription in the bottom corner of the print quotes chapter two of the second Book of Kings (2 Kings 2:23-24) when the Hebrew prophet, Elisha, came upon the children of the city of Bethel who mocked him for his bald head. In the Lord's name Elisha cursed the children and all 42 were killed by two she-bears who emerged from the woods. This obscure Old Testament subject also illustrates an important moral lesson--old age must be respected. Approximating the size and tonal range of paint...