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Title: The Submersion of Pharoah's Army in the Red Sea, from twelve blocks: 'Block J, directly to right of Block G', showing the cliffs Artist: After Titian (Tiziano Vecellio) (Italian, Pieve di Cadore ca. 1485/90?–1576 Venice)
The narrative—that of the Israelites’ persecution under the Egyptian pharaoh and his army’s fate when they followed Moses into the Red Sea—is propelled across the twelve sheets with remarkable unity.
This print, a fragment of Titian's large 'Submersion of Pharaoh's Army in the Red Sea' depicts Egyptian soldiers and horses terrorised by the great wave towering above them. The men wear contemporary armour and brandish swords and banners.
- Images OnlineReligion
- Woodcut on paper
The Submersion of Pharaoh’s Army in the Red Sea Date: c. 1515, printed 1549. Artist: After Titian (Italian, c. 1488-1576) published by Domenico dalle Greche (Italian, active 1543-1558)
The Submersion of Pharaoh’s Army in the Red Sea. c. 1515, printed 1549. After Titian (Italian, c. 1488-1576) published by Domenico dalle Greche (Italian, active 1543-1558) The grand scale of Titian’s twelve-sheet woodcut (see 1957.12.1–12) mimics history paintings and large wall hangings.
Here Titian creates a dramatic narrative that compellingly illustrates an episode recounted in the Book of Exodus of the Old Testament: the Egyptian army is submerged in the Red Sea following Moses’ parting of the waters, which had allowed the Israelites to pass safely as they fled their persecutors.
Titian depicted the moment just after the Israelites safely crossed the seabed. Moses raises his staff to close the divided waters, and Pharaoh's army is lost to the tumultuous waves. Titian probably drew the dramatic scene directly on the woodblocks.
