The Man Wounded by the Thieves - Simon Frisius

A detailed seventeenth-century etching by Simon Frisius depicting the attack on the traveller from the Parable of the Good Samaritan.

This etching by Simon Frisius depicts a scene from the Parable of the Good Samaritan, specifically the moment the traveller is attacked. The composition is dominated by a dense, gnarled forest. The trees are rendered with precise, rhythmic lines that create a sense of claustrophobic enclosure. The twisted trunks and interlocking branches occupy the foreground, drawing the eye toward the small, dark figures of the thieves and their victim tucked away in the lower right corner.

Frisius was a significant figure in the development of Dutch etching. He was known for his technical skill and his ability to translate the designs of other artists into print. In this work, the design is attributed to Hendrick Hondius, as indicated by the inscription 'Hondius Inventor'. The contrast between the dark, textured forest and the distant, lighter view of a town near a body of water provides a sense of spatial depth. The Latin inscription at the bottom, 'Defcendens Jerofolymâ, fpoliatur et vulneratur', translates to 'Descending from Jerusalem, he is robbed and wounded', providing the narrative context for the scene.

The print demonstrates the characteristic approach of early seventeenth-century Dutch printmakers, who often prioritised linear clarity and atmospheric effects. The foliage is treated with a decorative quality, where individual leaves and branches are defined by short, repetitive strokes. This print is part of a series illustrating the parable, showcasing the collaborative nature of print production during this period, where the roles of inventor, etcher, and publisher were distinct. The work remains a clear example of the technical precision achieved by Frisius during his career in The Hague.