Artwork

Six large upright landscapes with scenes from the Old Testament: Elijah Fed by the Ravens

Six large upright landscapes with scenes from the Old Testament: Elijah Fed by the Ravens is a print by the Baroque artist Antonie Waterloo. It dates from 1665 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

Anthonie Waterloo's 1665 print, Elijah Fed by the Ravens, is one of six large upright landscapes depicting Old Testament scenes, currently housed at The Cleveland Museum of Art.

Subject & Meaning

The print illustrates a pivotal moment from the story of Elijah, where the prophet is sustained by ravens in the wilderness. The composition captures a serene, yet resilient, figure amidst a vast, untamed environment.

Technique & Style

Waterloo employed chiaroscuro to dramatic effect, leveraging deep shadows and intricate line work to convey the density and vitality of a dark, tangled forest, set against a softly gradated distant sky.

History & Provenance

Created in 1665, the work's provenance prior to its acquisition by The Cleveland Museum of Art is not detailed here, highlighting only its current institutional home.

Context

This piece reflects 17th-century European artistic interests in biblical narratives and the development of landscape as a genre, often infused with symbolic or spiritual themes.

Legacy

While specific influences or subsequent artistic echoes are not noted, the work contributes to the broader legacy of Old Testament illustrations in Western art, particularly in the evolution of landscape painting.