Elijah Anoints Elisha 1549

Augustin Hirschvogel's 1549 etching, *Elijah Anoints Elisha*, depicts a scene from the Bible where Elijah, in a gesture of anointing, places his mantle upon Elisha. The image is set in a rural landscape, with a simple farmhouse in the background, and two oxen pulling a plow in the foreground. This engraving is part of a larger series of prints on the life of Christ and the prophets that are known for their detailed depiction of contemporary costumes and landscapes. Hirschvogel was a celebrated artist and architect known for his technical mastery of engraving. The stark lines of the image capture the solemnity of the moment, highlighting the powerful symbolism of the transfer of spiritual authority from Elijah to Elisha.