Jona wordt door de zeelieden over bord gegooid 1589 - 1626

Bartholomeus Willemsz. Dolendo created this circular engraving, ‘Jonah Thrown Overboard by the Sailors,’ sometime before his death in 1626. We see sailors tossing Jonah into the sea to save themselves from a storm, an episode drawn from the Hebrew Bible. The image creates meaning through its fusion of religious narrative with contemporary maritime culture. The setting is clearly Northern European, judging by the style of the ship and the costumes of the sailors. The circular format, coupled with the inscription around the rim, evokes the tradition of commemorative medals and coins, suggesting the value of the story for moral instruction. This engraving speaks to the religious and social values of the Dutch Republic in the early 17th century. As historians, we would look into the Dutch Reformed Church and its influence on art and society during this period, as well as popular traditions of seafaring and trade. By doing so we might understand more clearly the relevance of such biblical episodes to people living at that time.