The Wicked Husbandmen (The Parables of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ)

Art Historical Context

**The Wicked Husbandmen**, a poignant wood engraving from 1864, captures a dramatic moment from one of Jesus Christ's parables as depicted in the Bible (Matthew 21:33–46). Designed by Sir John Everett Millais a leading Pre-Raphaelite artist for his vivid realism and attention to detail, and meticulously engraved by the renowned Dalziel Brothers, this proof print exemplifies the collaborative artistry of Victorian book illustration. Part of the series *The Parables of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ*, it reflects the era's surge in religious imagery, blending spiritual narrative with technical innovation to make sacred stories accessible through affordable printed media. The scene evokes the parable's tension: wicked tenants murdering the vineyard owner's son, symbolized by tags like "Men" and "Death." Millais's Pre-Raphaelite style shines in the intricate textures—from rough clothing to shadowed faces—achieved via wood engraving, a precise intaglio technique on end-grain boxwood that allowed for fine lines rivaling etchings. The Dalziels' mastery ensured faithful reproduction of Millais's original drawing, highlighting 19th-century advances in printmaking that democratized high art. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department (Rogers Fund, 1921), this 5½ × 4⅜-inch image invites reflection on themes of betrayal and divine judgment, bridging biblical lore with Victorian visual culture. A testament to Anglo-American artistic exchange, it remains a gem for exploring faith, mortality, and craftsmanship.

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