Tabernacle Altars, Golden Candlestick and Brazen Laver, Mortier circa 1700

This original copper engraving from Pieter Mortier's illustrated Bible, published in Amsterdam circa 1700, shows two Old Testament scenes on one sheet. The subjects are Exodus 39, the golden altar of incense and golden candlestick, and the brazen altar of burnt offering and the brazen laver. It is plate 49 of the series, a fine example of Dutch Baroque biblical engraving with the upper and lower compositions each set in its own engraved frame.

The upper scene illustrates Exodus chapter 39, verse 37, with the Dutch caption Gouden Reuk Altaar en Kandelaar, the golden altar of incense and the candlestick. On the left the High Priest in his breastplate scatters incense on the smoking altar, and on the right, beyond a carved dividing column, priests trim and fill the lamps of the great seven branched candlestick, the menorah of the Tabernacle.

The lower scene follows Exodus chapter 39, verse 38, captioned Koperen Brand Altaar en Kopere Wasch Vat, the brazen altar of burnt offering and the brazen laver. Smoke rises from a sacrifice on the great altar in the court of the Tabernacle, while on the right priests wash their hands and feet at an ornate laver fed by a mask fountain.

This copper engraving comes from the illustrated Bible published in Amsterdam by Pieter Mortier around 1700, a landmark of Dutch Baroque book illustration that set more than four hundred biblical scenes before the reader. Each sheet pairs two episodes, framed like pictures on a wall and headed by engraved cartouches with the chapter and verse and captions in Dutch and French. The plate is signed Picard Inv. at lower left, for Bernard Picart as designer, and carries the imprint P. Mortier edit. Avec Privilege. The project brought together many of the most accomplished artists in the Netherlands, among them Gerard Hoet, Arnold Houbraken and Bernard Picart, and its theatrical compositions and rich tonal engraving show Dutch Baroque printmaking at its most confident.

Printed on laid paper with full margins and a blank verso, the engraving is uncolored, as issued. Framed in a simple dark or gilt moulding with a generous mount, a Mortier Bible sheet makes a handsome feature in a study, reading room or place of worship, and collectors often build themed groups around a single book of the Bible or a favorite figure.

The sheet is in good condition for its age, with light toning and small chips and losses at the frayed lower right corner, well away from the image, which is clean and strong.