1551
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Satan Bound for a Thousand Years is a 1551 ink by Jean Duvet, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This engraving shows a chaotic scene with a giant, winged figure being dragged down by chains. Around him, smaller people and buildings float in the sky, while a cityscape unfolds in the background. The lines are sharp and busy, with lots of swirling movement and tiny details. The text at the bottom reads *"Hist. Cap. Zo Apoc."*—short for a Bible passage about Satan being bound. The artist packed the image with symbols, like the city and the chains, to tell a story from the Book of Revelation. Next, check out engraving to see how artists like Duvet used metal plates and acid to create these intricate lines.
Jean Duvet (1485 – after 1562) was a French Renaissance goldsmith and engraver, now best known for his engravings.
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