Genesis to Kings in Early Modern Prints and Drawings

The path opens with the first plate of a portfolio titled The Tower of Babel, engraved by Jan Collaert I after Jan Snellinck I and published in 1585. It shows Nimrod, the mighty hunter and founder of Babel from Genesis 10 and 11, choosing the site for his tower.

Plate 1 of The Story of Jacob and Esau, an engraving of 1585 after Maerten de Vos, shows Esau trading his birthright to his brother Jacob for a bowl of lentil stew. The record calls this the scene that sets the two brothers' rivalry.

A sixteenth century pen and ink drawing by the Netherlandish artist Crispijn van den Broeck. It shows Dinah's brothers Simeon and Levi carrying out the retaliation that follows her assault by the Hivite prince Shechem in Genesis 34.

Daniel Lindtmayer's pen and black ink drawing of 1574 shows the moment in Genesis when Joseph's brothers sell him to a passing caravan bound for Egypt.

The only textile on the path is a South Netherlandish tapestry of about 1435 to 1450, one panel of a set on the Seven Sacraments. Jacob, on his deathbed, crosses his hands to bless the younger grandson first, and the tapestry's own caption names Ephraim and Manasseh.

Augustin Hirschvogel's etching of 1550 illustrates Numbers 17. Of all the tribal staffs, only the rod of Aaron budded, blossomed and bore almonds overnight, the sign confirming Aaron's priesthood.

Dirck Volckertsz Coornhert's etching and engraving after Maarten van Heemskerck, published by Hieronymus Cock in 1554, illustrates Numbers 22. The diviner Balaam's donkey sees the angel of the Lord blocking the road before Balaam himself does.

Francesco Solimena's drawing of 1728 to 1733 shows Deborah, remembered in the Book of Judges as a prophetess and the only woman to judge Israel, ordering the commander Barak to battle against the Canaanite general Sisera.

One of three scenes on an oil on oak altarpiece panel of about 1480 by the Master of the Saint Barbara Legend and a collaborator. It shows the Queen of Sheba presenting gifts to the Israelite king Solomon, and the same panel also carries a scene of Abner's messenger before David.

The path ends with the first plate of King Josiah Restores the Law of the Lord, designed by Maarten van Heemskerck and engraved by Philips Galle about 1569. The scribe Saphan reads the newly discovered book of the law to King Josiah, the episode from 2 Kings 22 that set off his religious reform.