Cleveland Museum of Art

Plate 3: Simeon

Jacob de Gheyn II

Date

c. 1589

Medium

engraving

Culture

Netherlands

Department

Prints

Institution

Cleveland Museum of Art

In this print, the biblical figure Simeon is posed with a sword and wearing armor, denoting the violent acts he perpetrated in his life. This is one of a series of prints depicting the twelve sons of Jacob, each with an attribute and costume that denotes his character. According to the Old Testament, Jacob blessed each of his twelve sons, prophesizing the destiny of their tribe, and assigning them a parcel of land in Canaan. The print series was made in the Netherlands in the late 16th century, a time of political struggle when Old Testament heroes were popular exemplars of fortitude and patience. The bellicose nature of this figure is emphasized by his flying cloak and muscular frame, which turns away from the viewer and toward the possible subject of his ire.

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