Pharaoh and the Plague of Frogs

De Bouzey employs fine, cross‑hatching and parallel lines to model forms and suggest depth, a hallmark of mid‑16th‑century engraving. The artist arranges multiple vignettes within a single frame, using line work to differentiate architectural interiors, crowded streets, and the open courtyard where the throne stands, creating a sense of spatial layering despite the medium’s limitations.

The print was issued in 1566, likely as part of a series of religious illustrations circulated in France during the Counter‑Reformation. Surviving copies are held in several European libraries and museums, indicating that the work was widely distributed and collected as a devotional image.

The engraving reflects contemporary interest in biblical typology and the moral instruction of Old Testament narratives. Its crowded composition mirrors the Renaissance fascination with complex, narrative-driven prints that could be examined closely, serving both didactic and decorative purposes in private devotional settings.

While not as frequently reproduced as later biblical prints, de Bouzey’s work contributes to the development of narrative engraving in the late Renaissance, demonstrating how line can convey intricate storytelling and influence subsequent generations of printmakers exploring biblical themes.