Mattathias Kills the Jew and the King's Officer - Johannes Wierix

A detailed 16th-century engraving by Johannes Wierix depicting the biblical narrative of Mattathias in the town of Modin.

This engraving by Johannes Wierix depicts a dramatic episode from the First Book of Maccabees. The scene captures the moment Mattathias, a Jewish priest, strikes down a fellow Jew who is preparing to offer a sacrifice to pagan gods, alongside the officer sent by King Antiochus to enforce the decree. The composition is typical of the late sixteenth-century Flemish style, employing a complex arrangement of figures across a multi-layered space.

Wierix demonstrates his technical proficiency through the use of varied hatching and cross-hatching to define form and texture. The foreground is dominated by the violent action, while the background provides a broader view of the town of Modin, complete with architectural details and smaller groups of figures engaged in the surrounding chaos. The artist balances the immediate brutality of the central figures with the wider narrative context, creating a sense of movement that draws the eye across the entire plate.

As a member of the prolific Wierix family of engravers, Johannes was known for his precise line work and his ability to translate complex theological and historical narratives into print. This work reflects the period's interest in biblical history, often used to mirror contemporary political and religious conflicts in the Low Countries. The Latin inscription at the base provides the specific scriptural reference, identifying the event as a defence of divine law. The print is a fine example of the narrative clarity and stylistic rigour that defined the output of the Antwerp print workshops during this era.