The Submersion of Pharaoh's Army in the Red Sea

The Submersion of Pharaoh's Army in the Red Sea by Titian is a monumental woodcut created between 1514 and 1515. Measuring over four feet wide, this intricate print is one of the most ambitious graphic works produced in Italy during the High Renaissance. While Titian is universally celebrated for his oil paintings, this massive print, cut from twelve individual blocks, demonstrates his early engagement with the reproductive medium and his unparalleled talent for dramatic composition, translating monumental painting style into detailed black-and-white relief.

The biblical scene depicts the harrowing culmination of the Exodus narrative, focusing intensely on the desperate destruction of the Egyptian forces as the waters of the Red Sea collapse upon them. Titian orchestrates a chaotic yet highly organized mass of drowning figures, horses, and chariots sinking beneath the immense churning waves. The demanding scale and complexity required for such a large woodcut underscore the profound ambition of Venetian printmaking in the early 16th century, placing this piece among the masterpieces of early Renaissance prints.

The immediate fame of Titian's dramatic composition ensured its widespread influence, rapidly disseminating the artist's visual style across Europe. This particular impression of The Submersion of Pharaoh's Army in the Red Sea resides within the distinguished collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. As a major contribution to the history of Italian art, high-quality documentation of this seminal work is frequently shared through public domain programs, allowing scholars and enthusiasts continued access to its revolutionary design.