Ruin of Babylon – Apocalypse by Jean Le Clerc
RUINE DE BABILONE, ET DUEIL DES INFIDELLES
Translation: Ruin of Babylon, and Mourning of the Unfaithful
This engraving illustrates Revelation 18, where the fall of Babylon is declared by an angel, and the kings and merchants of the earth lament her destruction. The “she-wolf” is a poetic term for the harlot of Babylon, representing corruption and worldly decadence, now brought to ruin by divine judgment.
Circa 1600-1630
Born: 1587 or 88 - Died: 1633
Dimensions: Approx 13.5 x 17.5 cm.
Jean Le Clerc (1587/88–1633) was a French Baroque painter and etcher from Nancy, in the Duchy of Lorraine. Trained under the Venetian master Carlo Saraceni, Le Clerc developed a tenebrist style characterized by dramatic contrasts of light and shadow. While only a few of his paintings survive, his numerous etchings and engravings have been preserved, showcasing his skill in depicting religious themes with luminous detail.
The Book of Revelation or Book of the Apocalypse is the final book of the New Testament. Written in Koine Greek, its title is derived from the first word of the text: apokalypsis, meaning ‘unveiling’ or ‘revelation’. The author names himself as simply “John” in the text, but his precise identity remains uncertain. The book is also known as the “Revelation to John”, or “Apocalypse of St. John” and begins with a series of visions he received on the island of Patmos and wrote down in a cave on that island in the Agean.
Deusta iacent Babylonis moenia clamat
Angelus et meretrix pressa dolore perit
Mercantes lugent, summi lugentque Monarchae
Haec propter sædae tristia fata lupae
Translation:
Burned lie the walls of Babylon, the angel cries aloud,
And the harlot, crushed by sorrow, perishes.
Merchants mourn, and mighty monarchs grieve,
For this vile she-wolf’s tragic fate.
I. le clerc ex
This is the signature of Jean Le Clerc (Latinized: Ioannes Le Clerc), meaning “drawn/engraved by Le Clerc.”