This dramatic and powerful painting by John Martin depicts the biblical moment when Pharaoh’s army is drowned in the Red Sea, a scene from the Book of Exodus. Martin’s use of grand, sweeping compositions and vivid contrasts of light and shadow creates an awe-inspiring vision of destruction and divine intervention. The chaotic clash of water and sky, with towering waves engulfing the Egyptian chariots, is rendered with breathtaking intensity. Martin’s mastery of scale and perspective emphasises the vastness of the catastrophe, while his detailed depiction of figures adds emotional depth to the scene.
1833
Artist: John Martin (1789–1854) Medium: Oil on canvas Collection: Getty Museum
