Dvodecim prophetae Simvl

The engraving depicts a dense group of twelve bearded men representing the biblical minor prophets, dressed in varied robes and headgear including turbans and pointed caps. The figures are shown in conversation or contemplation, emphasizing their collective role as transmitters of divine revelation. The fine line work and varied textures of the drapery are characteristic of late 16th-century Northern European printmaking.

In the context of Renaissance syncretism, Old Testament prophets were often viewed as the Hebrew counterparts to the 'prisci theologi' (ancient theologians) like Hermes Trismegistus. This print reflects the era's effort to catalog and visualize the diverse sources of ancient wisdom that underpinned Western natural philosophy and esoteric thought.