32. Philip Galle
(1537-1612) after Frans Floris

Solomon Building the Temple

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Galle: Solomon Building

Solomon Building the Temple

Engraving, 1558, 342 x 421 mm., The Illustrated Bartsch .011, Riggs 89, Hollstein 80. Provenance: Berlin Kupferstichkabinett (Lugt 1606 and 2398). Fine impression on laid paper with large margins; a flattened vertical centerfold and the paper somewhat age toned. The story is told beginning in I Kings 6, that in the four hundred and eightieth year after the escape from Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon's reign, he began the building of the temple. The chapter continues with incredible details of the dimensions of the temple, the materials used, the manner of construction, etc. The engraver here adds the information, not found in the Bible, that 150,000 men worked on the project.