Burning of Jerusalem and the Release of Jehoiachin, Mortier Bible circa 1700

This original copper engraving from Pieter Mortier's illustrated Bible, published in Amsterdam circa 1700, shows two Old Testament scenes on one sheet. The subjects are 2 Kings 25, Jerusalem plundered and burned by the Babylonians, and 2 Kings 25, Jehoiachin released from prison. It is plate 114 of the series, a fine example of Dutch Baroque biblical engraving with the upper and lower compositions each set in its own engraved frame.

The upper scene illustrates 2 Kings chapter 25, verse 9, captioned Jerusalem geplonderd en verbrand, Jerusalem plundered and burned. The city and temple blaze on the hill under a smoke filled sky while a long train of wagons carries off the spoil and the captive people are led away into Babylon by armoured soldiers.

The lower scene takes 2 Kings chapter 25, verse 27, captioned Jojachin uyt zyne banden ontslagen, Jehoiachin released from his bonds. In the thirty seventh year of his captivity the former king of Judah is brought out of prison and bows before Evil Merodach, king of Babylon, who sits enthroned beneath a canopy and gives him a place at his table.

Pieter Mortier's Bible, issued in Amsterdam circa 1700, is one of the finest illustrated Bibles of the Baroque period. Its plates, with more than four hundred scenes, follow the sacred narrative from Genesis onwards, two scenes to a sheet, each captioned in Dutch and French beneath the chapter and verse. The upper image is signed I. Luyken fecit at lower right, for Jan Luyken, and the lower is signed O. Elliger inv. for the designer Ottmar Elliger and Rheinhart fecit for the engraver, with the imprint P. Mortier edit. cum Privil. Leading Dutch artists such as Gerard Hoet, Arnold Houbraken and Bernard Picart supplied designs, and the plates were worked with a dense, velvety burin that gives the scenes their dramatic light and depth, the qualities that make Mortier sheets so sought after today.

The engraving is printed on laid paper with full margins and a blank verso, and is uncoloured, as issued. It rewards close viewing and is well suited to a study, library or quiet corner, either alone or hung as part of a series of Mortier Bible engravings, which together give a vivid sense of how the Dutch Baroque imagined the biblical world.

The sheet is in good condition for its age, with light toning, faint spotting and a small stain at one lower corner, all in the margins; the image is clean and strong.

This is an original antique print, not a modern reproduction. This item is sold unframed. Any framed or interior images are shown for presentation and inspiration only, unless the listing explicitly states that the item is sold framed.