The Judge Bias Shedding Tears, from Thronus Justitiae, tredecim pulcherrimus tabulis..., plate 9

Art Historical Context

In the early 17th century, the Dutch Golden Age's, *The Judge Bias Shedding Tears* (plate 9 from *Thronus Justitiae, tredecim pulchimus tabulis...*, 1605–6) offered a sharp moral commentary on justice. Designed by Mannerist master Joachim Wtewael masterfully engraved by Willem van Swanenburg and Christel van Sichem I, this print allegorizes a corrupt judge overcome by emotion—shedding tears amid symbols of power like weapons and musical instruments, surrounded by men and women. Part of a 13-plate series titled "Throne of Justice," it critiques bias in the judiciary, reflecting the era's fascination with emblematic art that blended satire, morality, and visual splendor. Engraving's intricate technique shines here, with fine lines capturing Wtewael's elegant, elongated figures and decorative details on a grand 11 11/16 × 15 1/4 in. sheet. This collaborative process—painter conceiving, engravers executing—made complex scenes widely accessible via prints, a booming medium in Northern Europe. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department (Elisha Whittelsey Collection, 1956), it exemplifies how such works educated and entertained, urging viewers to ponder fairness in an age of legal reforms and religious strife. (198 words)