Ammon and Jonadab 1539

"Ammon and Jonadab" is a 1539 engraving by German Renaissance artist Heinrich Aldegrever. The artwork, now housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, depicts a scene from the Old Testament, where Jonadab, King David's son, instructs his nephew Ammon on how to deceive Absalom to have him murdered. Aldegrever's meticulous detail and skillful use of light and shadow create a sense of realism and depth, typical of the Northern Renaissance style. The engraving's composition, with the figures engaged in a conversation, emphasizes the importance of communication and the moral dilemmas that arise within it.