Raising of the Brazen Serpent - Schelte Adamsz. Bolswert

A detailed seventeenth-century engraving by Schelte Adamsz. Bolswert depicting the biblical scene of Moses and the Brazen Serpent.

This engraving by Schelte Adamsz. Bolswert depicts the biblical narrative from the Book of Numbers, where Moses raises a bronze serpent on a pole to heal the Israelites from venomous snake bites. Bolswert, a master engraver of the Dutch Golden Age, worked closely with Peter Paul Rubens to translate the dramatic energy of Flemish Baroque painting into the medium of print. The composition is organised around the figure of Moses, who gestures towards the serpent, while the foreground is occupied by figures suffering from the plague of serpents.

The technical execution demonstrates the characteristic precision of Bolswert's burin work. He employs varied line weights and cross-hatching to model the musculature of the figures and the turbulent, cloud-filled sky. The dramatic lighting, typical of the period, creates strong contrasts between the illuminated figures and the deep shadows of the rocky terrain. The scene captures a moment of intense emotional and physical distress, with figures writhing in pain or looking towards the symbol of salvation.

Bolswert's ability to render the textures of skin, fabric, and the rugged landscape through purely linear means is evident here. The print includes a Latin inscription at the base, which identifies the subject and provides a dedication, a common feature in high-quality reproductive prints of the seventeenth century. This work serves as an example of how printmaking allowed the visual language of the Baroque to reach a wider audience beyond the owners of large-scale oil paintings. The dynamic poses and the sense of movement within the frame reflect the influence of Rubens, whose compositions Bolswert frequently interpreted. This print offers a clear view into the collaborative nature of seventeenth-century print production, where the engraver acted as both a technician and an interpreter of the painter's original vision.