The Submersion of Pharaoh's Army in the Red Sea

The Submersion of Pharaoh's Army in the Red Sea is a powerful and ambitious early print created by the Venetian master Titian between 1514 and 1515. This monumental work is classified as a woodcut, demonstrating the artist's engagement with mediums beyond his renowned oil paintings. Measuring roughly four feet in height, this specific piece is considered one of the largest and most complex Italian prints produced during the early sixteenth century.

Drawing directly from the Book of Exodus, the scene depicts the dramatic climax of the biblical narrative: the moment when the waters of the Red Sea collapse upon the pursuing Egyptian army, saving the Israelites. Titian’s intricate design emphasizes the chaos and panic of the drowning soldiers and horses, utilizing the strong, graphic contrasts inherent to the woodcut medium to heighten the religious drama. Although Titian provided the composition, the immense technical difficulty and scale required collaboration with specialist block cutters to translate the intricate details effectively onto the wooden surface, a common practice for large-format Renaissance prints from Italy.

The intense kinetic energy and dramatic scale seen in this work are hallmarks of Titian’s developing style during this critical period. The rarity and historical significance of this specific impression make it a cornerstone of Renaissance graphic arts, showcasing the ambitious expansion of the woodcut as a sophisticated fine art form. Today, high-quality images of this remarkable print reside in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art (CMA). Owing to its age and profound cultural impact, the underlying imagery for The Submersion of Pharaoh's Army in the Red Sea is often available for study and reproduction through public domain resources.