The Meeting of Moses and Jethro, from Thronus Justitiae, tredecim pulcherrimus tabulis..., plate 1

Art Historical Context

This engraving captures the biblical encounter between Moses and his father-in-law Jethro, a pivotal moment of counsel and leadership transition. Created in 1605–6 as the first plate in the series *Thronus Justitiae*, the work brings together the inventive designs of Joachim Wtewael with the skilled engraving techniques of Willem van Swanenburg and Pieter de Jode I. The medium of engraving allowed such narrative scenes to reach wide audiences through affordable prints, spreading moral and religious stories across Europe during the early seventeenth century. Wtewael, a leading Dutch Mannerist, infused the composition with elegant figures set against a wooded landscape, emphasizing both human interaction and natural detail. The presence of men, women, and trees in the scene underscores themes of community and guidance central to the story. As a print in the Metropolitan Museum’s collection, it highlights the collaborative nature of early modern printmaking, where painters and engravers worked together to translate dramatic subjects into lasting visual form.