(After) Matthias Scheits’ etching, “Temptation of Christ in the Desert”, c.1670

Unidentified engraver after Matthias Scheits (aka Mathias Scheitz; Matthias Scheutz) (c.1625/30–1700)

“Temptation of Christ in the Desert”, c.1754, after Matthias Scheits’ etching, c.1670, published in the “Lüneburg Bible” (aka “Sternsche Bible”), printed by Johann and Heinrich Stern in Lüneburg in 1672 (see https://www.winsener-anzeiger.de/lokales/604289-museum-lueneburg-rueckt-die-von-sternsche-druckerei-ins-zentrum/). This impression featuring English text above the image with French and Dutch text below is from Josua and Reinier Ottens’ edition, “Tableaux du Vieux & Nouveau Testament”, published in Amsterdam in 1754 (see https://books.google.com.au/books/about/Tableaux_du_Vieux_Nouveau_Testament.html?id=eH5jAAAAcAAJ&redir_esc=y).

Etching on laid paper with small margins.

Size: (sheet) 25.7 x 18.6 cm; (plate) 22.8 x 18 cm; (inner image borderline) 20.9 x 17.3 cm.

Lettered in plate: (above the image borderline) “The Temptation of Christ in the Desert. Luke. IV.1–12.”; (below the image borderline) “Luc.IV. Jesus Christ tenté par le diable dans le desert. N. T. 24./ 1–12. Jesus ven den duivel in de Woestyne versocht.”

Condition: a strong and near flawless impression with small margins on the sides and top in a near pristine condition for its considerable age with no tears, holes, folds, abrasions, stains or foxing.

I am selling this very beautiful etching showing Christ in the wilderness being approached by the devil holding a stone and challenging Christ that if he truly is the Son of God then he should be able to command the stone to become bread (Luke 4:1-12), for AU$218 in total (currently US$142.31/EUR131.19/GB112.36 at the time of posting 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 interesting illustration exemplifying the classicist-academic manner of representation for biblical scenes in a vertical format clearly favoured by Protestant Germany at the time (as foreseen by the initial publishers, Johann and Heinrich Stern, whose “Lüneburg Bible” was to become a household fixture), please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.

This print has been sold