Artwork

Elisha Cursing the Children of Bethel Who Are Being Devoured by the Bears

Elisha Cursing the Children of Bethel Who Are Being Devoured by the Bears is a print by the Baroque artist Nicolaes de Bruyn. It dates from 1602 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

Accession no.: 1996.223
Credit line: John L. Severance Fund

About this work

This print shows two angry bears attacking a group of screaming children in a dark forest. The bears look huge and the kids scatter in terror.

De Bruyn made this in 1602 using fine lines to build up shadows and lights. The tiny Latin quote at the bottom tells the story of Elisha and the disrespectful crowd.

Look for Nicolaes de Bruyn (Netherlandish, 1571–1656) next.

Overview

Elisha Cursing the Children of Bethel Who Are Being Devoured by the Bears is a 1602 print by Nicolaes de Bruyn, a Netherlandish artist. The work depicts a violent scene from the Old Testament.

Subject & Meaning

The print illustrates a passage from 2 Kings 2:23-24, in which the prophet Elisha curses a group of children who mock him, resulting in their death at the hands of two bears. The scene conveys a moral lesson about the importance of respecting old age.

Technique & Style

De Bruyn employed fine lines to create a range of shadows and lights, achieving a tonal depth reminiscent of paintings by Gillis van Coninxloo. The technique suggests that prints like this one may have served as affordable alternatives to paintings.

History & Provenance

Created in 1602, the print features a Latin inscription at the bottom, quoting the relevant biblical passage. The work is characteristic of de Bruyn's style during this period.