Steniging van de ouderlingen - Gerard de Jode

A detailed sixteenth-century etching by Gerard de Jode depicting the biblical stoning of the elders from the Book of Daniel.

This print by Gerard de Jode depicts the biblical narrative from the Book of Daniel, specifically the punishment of the two elders who falsely accused Susanna. The scene captures the moment of execution, where the men are bound to a tree while a crowd gathers to cast stones. De Jode, a prominent cartographer and printmaker based in Antwerp, utilised the technical precision characteristic of the period to render the muscular forms of the figures and the textures of the surrounding environment.

The composition follows a classical arrangement: the central figures are tied to a tree, creating a vertical axis that balances the groups of men preparing to throw stones on the left and right. The background features a modest architectural structure and rolling terrain, typical of sixteenth-century Netherlandish printmaking. The Latin inscription at the base provides context, identifying the scene as the retribution for the false witnesses.

As a master of the copperplate, de Jode employed varied line weights to define the anatomy of the figures and the depth of the scene. The hatching techniques create shadow and volume, particularly on the backs of the men in the foreground. This work reflects the interest in moralising biblical subjects that occupied many artists in the Low Countries during the late sixteenth century. The print is presented here as a high-quality reproduction, maintaining the clarity of the original etching lines and the tonal balance of the monochrome ink. It offers a clear view into the graphic arts of the Northern Renaissance, where narrative clarity and technical skill were held in high regard.