Exceptionally large micrographic print by Levi van Gelder. [New York, ca. 1865]. English and some Hebrew.

Grand-scale, richly detailed print, comprising some one hundred medallions portraying biblical scenes and characters, all hand-colored; medallions framed with the texts of biblical verses and liturgical passages from the High Holiday prayers, inscribed in elegant micrographic script (English and Hebrew), and a number of pasted pieces of paper, printed in red and gilt (collage).

The medallions are arranged chronologically, with the illustrations extending downward from an introductory medallion at top center to create a visual representation of the full biblical narrative, beginning with the expulsion of Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden, and proceeding sequentially with the stories of Cain and Abel, The Great Flood and Noah’s Ark, the Binding of Isaac, Jacob’s Dream, the Children of Israel as slaves in Egypt, the Israelites receiving the Torah at Mt. Sinai, the Biblical Spies bearing the Cluster of Grapes, Moses viewing the landscape of the Promised Land, David and Goliath, and various biblical prophets.

Appearing in the introductory medallion at top center – alongside the two Pillars of Solomon’s Temple ("Jachin and Boaz") – are a number of symbols and emblems associated with the Freemasons, including the Square and Compasses, the "All-Seeing Eye of Providence", and other Masonic motifs; Van Gelder was himself a Freemason, and Masonic elements were prominently featured in many of his works.

Levi David van Gelder (1816-1878) was born in Amsterdam and worked there as a printer. Among the graphic works he created in Amsterdam, we know of at least four "Mizrach" plaques, made in his own distinctive style, characterized by meticulously executed micrographic works incorporating texts and illustrations alongside large text-boxes (sometimes pasted on). In the early 1860s (ca. 1860-1864), Van Gelder immigrated with his family to the United States, where he created the present print, thought to be among his finest and most intricately-detailed works. In this and other works he created in the US, he incorporated English texts (in contrast to his Amsterdam artworks where the language was Dutch, at times combined with Hebrew).

Approx. 118X90 cm. Good-fair condition. Abrasions and tears (some professionally mended), with minor damage to text and illustrations. Stains. Margins mounted onto acid-free paper, mounted in turn onto a linen sheet. Framed.