Sennacherib and the Assyrian army at Jerusalem 1490 - 1500

Curator: This intriguing woodcut, of unknown origin, depicts "Sennacherib and the Assyrian army at Jerusalem," a tiny visual drama measuring only about 6.5 by 12 centimeters. Editor: My first thought? What a wonderfully busy little apocalypse! It feels like an Old Master reimagined as a medieval comic. Curator: The composition is quite striking, isn't it? You have the besieged city on the left, the chaotic battlefield in the center, and the Assyrian army observing the divine intervention from the right. Editor: And that angel swooping down with a sword—it's so direct, no ambiguity about who's in charge. It's also cleverly framed by that decorative border, a nice juxtaposition of violence and domesticity. Curator: Indeed. Images like this circulated widely, shaping public understanding of historical and religious events. This artwork would have been a powerful statement about divine power and protection. Editor: Thinking about today, I am still fascinated by its raw power and how such a tiny creation can evoke such grand and violent narratives. Curator: It's a testament to the enduring power of visual storytelling, wouldn't you agree? A tiny window into a much larger world.