Design for a Knife Handle with the Sermon on the Mount 1580 - 1600

This is Johann Theodor de Bry’s “Design for a Knife Handle with the Sermon on the Mount,” an engraving made in the late 16th or early 17th century. Designs like this circulated among artisans throughout Europe, and this one is especially interesting for how it brings together the sacred and the secular. The central image depicts the Sermon on the Mount, a key moment in the New Testament where Jesus lays out the ethical principles of Christianity. De Bry surrounds this scene with decorative motifs drawn from classical antiquity, such as sea creatures and cherubic figures, demonstrating the pervasive influence of Renaissance humanism at the time. The text on either side is taken from the same Bible passage, yet presented in two different languages. To understand the nuances of this print, scholars might consult collections of engravings, records of metalwork production, and theological texts from the period. Artworks like this, are crucial to understanding the intertwining of religious, economic, and artistic currents in early modern Europe.