Bidspirit auction | Original 18th-Century Copper Engraving –

Original 18th-Century Copper Engraving – “Gideon’s Thau und Wunder-Tenne” | From Physica Sacra by Johann Jakob Scheuchzer, engraved by Georg Daniel Heumann, Augsburg 1731–1735 - Magnificent original copperplate engraving illustrating the Miracle of Gideon’s Fleece (Judges 6:36 ff.), from Johann Jakob Scheuchzer’s monumental Physica Sacra, also known as the “Kupfer-Bibel” (“Copper Bible”), published in Augsburg, 1731–1735. The plate is numbered TAB. CCCLXXV (375) and engraved by Georg Daniel Heumann (1680–1759). It depicts Gideon’s divine test — the dew falling only on the fleece while the ground remains dry — confirming God’s promise of victory. Framed by an elaborate Baroque border filled with symbolic elements — scientific instruments, scrolls, foliage, and biblical motifs — the print exemplifies the perfect union of theology, science, and art that defines Scheuchzer’s vision of the Bible through natural philosophy. 📜 Author: Johann Jakob Scheuchzer (1672–1733) 🖋 Engraver: Georg Daniel Heumann (1680–1759) 📗 Work: Physica Sacra (Kupfer-Bibel), Augsburg, 1731–1735 📖 Subject: The Miracle of Gideon’s Fleece (Judges 6:36 ff.) 🖨 Technique: Copperplate engraving 📏 Dimensions: 24 × 37 cm 📑 Condition: Excellent impression, strong plate marks, wide margins A rare and striking Baroque biblical engraving, rich in detail and symbolism, representing the harmony between faith and science in early 18th-century thought — a masterpiece of religious illustration.