Renard is Accused by the Wolf and Several Animals from Hendrick van Alcmar's Renard The Fox

Art Historical Context

This engraving by Dutch artist Allart van Everdingen captures a lively moment from the classic fable *Renard the Fox*, based on Hendrick van Alcmar’s 17th-century Dutch adaptation of the medieval tale. In the scene, the clever fox stands accused by a wolf and other animals—including lions and boars—highlighting themes of justice, trickery, and moral reckoning that delighted audiences across Europe. The compact composition, measuring just under four by five inches, packs the animals into a dramatic confrontation that invites viewers to follow the story’s twists. Created between 1650 and 1675 as an engraving in its second state of four, the print reflects the era’s growing interest in illustrated books that made literature and lessons accessible beyond the wealthy elite. Van Everdingen’s precise linework brings texture to fur, expressions, and movement, showcasing the medium’s ability to convey narrative detail with clarity and wit. Now part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection through the Elisha Whittelsey Fund, the work offers a charming window into 17th-century Dutch storytelling traditions.

About the Artist

Allart van Everdingen · 1621–1675

Allaert van Everdingen (1621-1675) was a Dutch Golden Age painter and printmaker who introduced Scandinavian landscape painting to the Netherlands. Born in Alkmaar and baptized on June 18, 1621, he pioneered a distinctive genre of Nordic mountain scenery that profoundly influenced Dutch landscape painting and later inspired the Romantic movement. Van Everdingen holds a unique place in art history...