The Submersion of Pharaoh's Army in the Red Sea

The Submersion of Pharaoh's Army in the Red Sea is a monumental woodcut executed after a design by Titian (Italian, c. 1488-1576) and published by Domenico dalle Greche (Italian, active 1543-1558). Dated to the early Italian Renaissance period, between 1510 and 1520, this print captures the dramatic Biblical narrative from the Book of Exodus, where the Red Sea crashes down upon the pursuing Egyptian army. While Titian is credited with the complex, densely populated composition, its translation into a multi-block print required the substantial skill of the printmaker and publisher to establish the work’s remarkable scale and detailed execution.

The work is a formidable example of early 16th-century prints, rendered in black ink on ivory laid paper. The technical challenges inherent in the woodcut medium demanded precision in translating the fluid motion of the waves and the chaos of drowning horses and soldiers into rigid linear cuts. Titian’s design emphasizes the violent turbulence of the water, sharply contrasting the doomed, chaotic figures of Pharaoh’s army with the receding line of the triumphant Israelites. This piece vividly conveys the sheer scale of the tragedy and the terrifying power of the divine intervention that caused the waters to close.

Such large-format prints, developed primarily in Italy, were essential mechanisms for the dissemination of major paintings and designs across Europe, allowing a wider public access to important Renaissance masterworks. The collaboration with Domenico dalle Greche ensured the successful production and circulation of this complex image. Today, this significant piece of art history, which is often referenced as being in the public domain, is preserved within the permanent collection of the Art Institute of Chicago.