The Hidden Treasure (The Parables of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ)

About this artwork

"The Hidden Treasure (The Parables of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ)" by Dalziel Brothers|Sir John Everett Millais, created in 1864, is executed in wood engraving; proof. This prints belongs to the Metropolitan Museum's Drawings and Prints collection. The work measures image: 5 1/2 x 4 5/16 in. (13.9 x 10.9 cm) sheet: 7 5/16 x 6 1/16 in. (18.6 x 15.4 cm). The artwork entered the museum's collection through rogers fund, 1921.

Art Historical Context

This wood engraving, created in 1864 by Sir John Everett Millais and engraved by the Dalziel Brothers, forms part of a celebrated series illustrating *The Parables of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ*. Millais, a leading figure in the Pre-Raphaelite movement, brought his characteristic attention to naturalistic detail and moral storytelling to these designs. The scene likely depicts a farmer discovering hidden treasure, drawing from the biblical parable to explore themes of sacrifice and spiritual value. As a wood engraving proof, the work highlights an important Victorian printing technique that allowed intricate illustrations to reach wide audiences through books and periodicals. The Dalziel Brothers’ skilled cutting preserved Millais’s delicate linework, translating vision into a reproducible medium that bridged fine art and popular culture. Acquired by the Museum through the Rogers Fund in 1921, this impression offers viewers a glimpse into 19th-century religious illustration and the enduring power of parable imagery.

About the Artist

Dalziel Brothers|Sir John Everett Millais (British|British) · 1839 |1823 –1893 |1906

British, active 1839–93|British, Wooler, Northumberland 1823–1906 Herne Bay, Kent