Presentation of the Virgin in the Temple 1742

This engraving of the Presentation of the Virgin in the Temple was created by John Baptist Jackson in 1742. It depicts the biblical story of Mary's presentation at the Temple in Jerusalem when she was three years old. A young girl, likely Mary, approaches the steps of the temple as a man dressed in a long robe stands on the top step, possibly the High Priest. The engraving uses details to suggest realism, like the bricks on the steps and the people in the background watching the event unfold. The composition is balanced, with the figures arranged in a pyramid shape, adding to the sense of order and solemnity of the scene.