The Philistines Place the Ark of the Covenant in the Temple of Dagon

Art Historical Context

Created around 1540 by the Italian artist Battista Franco, this etching and engraving captures a dramatic moment from the Old Testament. It illustrates the Philistines placing the captured Ark of the Covenant inside the temple of their god Dagon, only for the idol to miraculously topple before the sacred Hebrew object. Franco, active during the Mannerist period and influenced by Michelangelo, specialized in expressive figure drawing and complex narrative scenes that appealed to educated collectors of the Renaissance. The work’s medium—etching combined with engraving—allowed Franco to achieve fine, precise lines and rich tonal contrasts, techniques that were gaining popularity in 16th-century Italy for reproducing detailed compositions. As a print, it could be widely distributed, spreading both religious stories and artistic ideas across Europe. The first state of the plate preserves the artist’s original intentions before later revisions. Housed today in the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection of drawings and prints, this sheet exemplifies how Renaissance artists used the biblical past to explore themes of divine power and cultural conflict. Its modest size and intricate line work invite close looking, rewarding viewers with a vivid glimpse into both scriptural narrative and the technical sophistication of early modern printmaking.

About the Artist

Battista Franco · 1510–1561

Battista Franco, known as il Semolei, was born in Venice around 1510, though his career unfolded largely in Rome and at the courts of central and northern Italy. He came to Rome in his twenties and immediately fell under two powerful spells: the inexhaustible riches of classical antiquity and the overwhelming presence of Michelangelo. Franco spent years making drawings after ancient sculptures and...