The Animals Going into the Ark from The Story of the Family of Seth

Art Historical Context

Step into the bustling scene of *The Animals Going into the from The Story of the of Seth* (1586), a captivating engraving by Flemish artist Maerten de Vos, with masterful execution by engraver Johann Sadeler I Created in Antwerp during the late Northern Renaissance, this print belongs to a series exploring biblical narratives, blending religious devotion with Mannerist flair—de Vos's specialty in intricate, elegant compositions filled with dynamic figures and exotic details. The image teems with life: pairs of animals—deer, elephants, unicorns, birds, and more—stream toward Noah's Ark amid men, women, and grand architecture, evoking the divine order of Genesis. Fantastical creatures like unicorns reflect 16th-century interpretations of scripture, symbolizing harmony before the Flood. As an engraving on a modest sheet (8 1/16 × 10 3/4 in.), it showcases Sadeler's precise intaglio technique, allowing fine lines and textures to reproduce de Vos's designs widely for devout households during the Counter-Reformation. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Elisha Whittelsey Collection, this work highlights printmaking's role in democratizing art, making sacred stories accessible and sparking wonder at nature's variety preserved through faith.