The Devil Sowing the Tares, with Rabbit, Monkey, Greyhound, and Parrot - Adriaen Collaert

A detailed Flemish engraving depicting the biblical parable of the tares, framed by a decorative border of animals and botanical elements.

This engraving by Adriaen Collaert depicts the biblical parable of the tares, where an enemy sows weeds among a farmer's wheat. The central scene presents a rural vista, complete with rolling hills, distant structures, and figures engaged in agricultural labour. The composition follows the conventions of late sixteenth-century Flemish printmaking, balancing a narrative core with a highly decorative frame.

The surrounding border is a notable feature of this work. It incorporates a variety of flora and fauna, including a rabbit, a monkey, a greyhound, and a parrot, interspersed with butterflies and floral sprigs. This decorative approach reflects the period's interest in natural history and the classification of the natural world, often seen in the works of the Collaert family and their contemporaries. The juxtaposition of the moralising biblical narrative with the secular, observational detail of the animals creates a complex visual dialogue.

Technically, the print demonstrates the precision characteristic of Collaert's output. The lines are fine and controlled, allowing for a high degree of detail in the foliage and the textures of the animals' fur. The perspective is constructed to draw the eye across the field toward the distant horizon, while the frame serves to contain the scene, acting as a window into a carefully ordered world. The inclusion of Latin inscriptions within the lower border provides context, identifying the contributors and the nature of the publication. This piece is representative of the print culture in Antwerp during the late Renaissance, where technical skill and thematic depth were combined to produce works for both collectors and the general public.