Monday is Holy Day P.84

The Life of Christ- Engraving from the Evangelicae Historiae Imagines by Hieronymus Nadal 1593 P.84

The Evangelicae Historiae Imagines (Images of Gospel History) is a renowned Renaissance collection of 153 engravings Illustrating the life of Christ, originally published in 1593. The full title further specifies that the images follow the sequence of the Gospel readings used during Mass throughout the liturgical year. 

The translation of the latin title is: "MONDAY IS HOLY DAY" and the scene shows Jesus dining at the house of Simon the Leper, where Mary Magalene anoints his feet and head with expensive ointment. 

Translation:

• Monday of the Greater Week.
• Supper at the house of Simon the Leper.
• A. From there Jesus came to Bethany.
• B. Bethany, the house of Simon the Leper.
• D. Many came to Jerusalem, not only for Jesus, but also to see Lazarus.
• E. At supper, Jesus and Lazarus are reclining at the table.
• F. The Jews coming in see Lazarus with Jesus.
• G. Martha serves them.
• H. They minister unto him.
• I. Contemplate the mind of Christ, his death.
• K. Magdalene anoints the feet of Jesus.
• L. Then she breaks the jar and pours it over his head.
• M. Judas is most bitterly angered by the ointment.
• N. Judas goes to the chief priests.

Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Jesuit order, commissioned the project, which Nadal oversaw, though both died before its completion. This pioneering series of engravings was created to help Jesuit novices with meditation on the Gospels as part of their spiritual exercises.

The engravings, showing the life, death and resurrection of Christ, were made by some of the best Flemish engravers, including the Wierix brothers at Antwerp, Jan II and Adriaen Collaert, Charles de Mallery, after drawings by the Italian painter Bernardo Passari and a few after Maarten de Vos. The book became an important source for Spanish Colonial Art. 

The present famous print series of the life of Christ soon became a highly important work for Jesuit missionaries and, moreover, a masterpiece of Flemish engraving at the end of the 16th century, engraved by some of the best Flemish engravers of its time in exceptional quality.

Mr. Christopher W. Charles purchased a collection of these prints over 30 years ago from a Sotheby's auction. 

Published in Antwerp in 1593