Joshua, David, and Judas Maccabee, from The Nine Heroes

Art Historical Context

Welcome to the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints collection, where you'll find *Joshua, David, and Maccabee, from The Heroes*, a striking woodcut created around 1520 by two masters of Dutch printmaking: Lucas van Leyden and Cornelisz van Oosten. This large-scale print (over 20 inches wide) captures three legendary Jewish heroes—Joshua, the conqueror of Canaan; King David, the psalmist slayer of Goliath; Judas Maccabeus, the valiant leader of the Maccabean Revoltmounted on horseback in dynamic poses that evoke chivalric grandeur. Part of the popular medieval "Nine Worthies" series, which celebrated nine exemplary figures from history as models of virtue and heroism, this work reflects the Renaissance fascination with antiquity and biblical narratives in Northern Europe. Woodcuts like this one were revolutionary for their affordability and ability to produce bold, intricate designs from carved wooden blocks, making heroic imagery accessible beyond elite circles. Van Leyden, renowned for his exquisite engravings, and van Oostsanen, a pioneer in narrative prints, likely collaborated to blend fine detail with dramatic composition, showcasing the era's technical prowess in relief printing. Acquired through the Rogers Fund in 1920, this piece highlights the vibrant print culture of early 16th-century Haarlem and Antwerp, where such works inspired tapestries, paintings, and moral tales for a growing audience hungry for visual stories of triumph and faith.

About the Artist

Lucas van Leyden|Jacob Cornelisz van Oostsanen · 1484–1533

Lucas van Leyden (1494–1533) was a Dutch painter and printmaker who stands among the greatest engravers of the Northern Renaissance. Born in Leiden as either Lucas Hugensz or Lucas Jacobsz, he lived and worked primarily in his native city, achieving international renown that rivaled the German master Albrecht Dürer. Lucas van Leyden revolutionized Netherlandish printmaking and was among the first...