Susanna Accused of Adultery, from The Story of Susanna

Art Historical Context

Heinrich Aldegre's *Susanna Accused ofultery, from The of Susanna* (1555) captures a dramatic moment from the biblical Apocrypha in the Book of Daniel. this tale, the virtuous Susanna faces false accusations of adultery by two lecherous elders, highlighting themes of injustice, chastity, and divine intervention. Aldegrever, a German engraver from Soest and one of the Renaissance "Little Masters," specialized in intricate small-scale prints like this one, measuring just 4 9/16 × 3 1/4 inches. As an engraving, the work showcases Aldegrever's mastery of the burin technique, where fine lines incised into a copper plate create rich tonal contrasts and exquisite detail—perfect for disseminating moral narratives during the Protestant Reformation. Produced amid religious upheaval in 16th-century Germany, it reflects the era's fascination with cautionary biblical stories, blending Northern Renaissance precision with emotional intensity. The composition likely centers Susanna amid accusers, evoking empathy through the artist's skillful depiction of figures (noted in tags for men and women). Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department (Harris Brisbane Dick Fund, 1947), this print exemplifies how engravings made art accessible beyond elite patrons, influencing devotion and discourse across Europe. A testament to Aldegrever's legacy, it invites viewers to ponder timeless questions of truth and judgment.

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...