Paulus wordt door een adder gebeten 1677 - 1755

Elias van Nijmegen created this drawing, Paulus wordt door een adder gebeten, with pen in gray ink, heightened with watercolor. Van Nijmegen’s technique reflects a blend of skill and efficiency, crucial for producing designs that would be reproduced in other media, like glass painting. The application of watercolor washes, is a relatively quick process, and it imbues the drawing with depth and volume. The narrative scene from the Bible is composed with bold strokes that define figures and landscape, with the artist using layers of watercolor to create nuanced shading and texture. In the 18th century, such works were essential tools in the production of luxury items, like large scale stained glass windows. In terms of labor, Paulus wordt door een adder gebeten sits at the beginning of a production chain, an efficient method to produce the aesthetics of glass painting. By examining the methods and materials, we gain insight into the broader economic context in which artists like Van Nijmegen operated, at the intersection of art, craft, and commerce.