The Parable of the Kingdom of Heaven
1585
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1585
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
The Parable of the Kingdom of Heaven is a 1585 ink by Adriaen Collaert, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This engraving shows a busy scene with two men in the foreground—one dressed in fine clothes, the other in rougher garments. Behind them, a town burns while people flee or watch from buildings. A church tower stands tall, and a horse rides through smoke in the top corner. The lines are sharp, with lots of small shadows created by cross-hatching. The fine-clothed man seems to be offering something to the other, while chaos unfolds around them. This is likely a story about a kingdom, but the details are left to the viewer’s imagination. Next, check out how engraving works to see how artists create such detailed lines.
