Matthäus Merian the Elder’s engraving, “Mocking of Job””, 1620, after Antonie Mirou

Matthäus Merian I (1593–1650)

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My attribution of this print to Merian is based on the unillustrated description of Rijksmuseum’s etching by Merian: “Bespotting van Job” (http://hdl.handle.net/10934/RM0001.COLLECT.432093). My apologies if my attribution is incorrect, but I am unable to verify the print in a catalogue raisonné during the current pandemic. Note that there is a copy of this print by Pierre Mariette (1634–1716) executed in 1670 and published in “L’Histoire du Vieux et du Nouveau Testament (..)” (see https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-satan-hovers-over-job-as-he-sits-patiently-on-his-dunghill-uncomplaining-105320687.html) described as: “Satan hovers over Job as he sits patiently on his dunghill, uncomplaining despite his afflictions”. The Mariette’s copy is easily distinguished from Merian’s print as the copy lacks Merian’s confident drawing and it is more perfunctory in handling.

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“Mocking of Job” (aka “Job Afflicted”; “Job upon the Dunghill”; “Job sur le fumier”; “Job on the Dunghill Visited by his Wife”), 1620, after Antonie Mirou (aka Anton Mirou) (1578–before1627), published by Peter Aubry II (aka Pierre Aubry) (1596–1666) in Frankfurt am Main.

Etching on laid paper trimmed along the image borderline with letterpress text verso and backed on a support sheet.

Size: (sheet) 31.3 x 23.3 cm; (image borderline) 30 x 22.8 cm.

Inscribed on plate: (lower left on dunghill) “Icob : 5: 11”; (lower edge right of centre) “Cum Privil”; (lower right corner) “Hiob, 1.6”.

Condition: well-printed strong impression trimmed along the image borderline and laid upon a support sheet of archival (millennium quality) washi paper. The sheet is in an excellent condition (i.e. there are no tears, holes, folds, losses, abrasions, stains, foxing or signs of use).

I am selling this amazing etching showing the Biblical figure, Job, afflicted with ulcerous and very smelly sores patiently sitting on an even more smelly dungheap while a serpent-tailed big-breasted demon hovers above watching Job’s wife and friends taunting Job, for the total cost of AU$249 (currently US$162.73/EUR149.76/GBP130.63 at the time of this listing) including postage and handling to anywhere in the world (but not, of course, any import duties/taxes imposed by some countries).

If you are interested in purchasing this biblical scene of quiet stoic determination in which a once wealthy man who has lost everything and is afflicted by sores to test his faith is still able to find solace in God by resisting all human contact by virtue of his disgusting stench, please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy. (My apologies for all faults in my understanding of what is illustrated in this scene.)