Who created "The Death of the First Born"?

The Death of the First Born was created by Erastus Salisbury Field in 1865–80.

When was "The Death of the First Born" created?

This artwork was created 1865–80.

What medium is "The Death of the First Born"?

The Death of the First Born is Oil on canvas.

Is "The Death of the First Born" in the public domain?

Yes, The Death of the First Born is in the public domain and available for free download under CC0 license.

The Death of the First Born

Erastus Salisbury Field

1865–80

Medium

Oil on canvas

Dimensions

35 x 46 in. (88.9 x 116.8 cm)

Classification

Painting

Culture

American

Department

The American Wing

Museum

Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY

Credit

Gift of Edgar William and Bernice Chrysler Garbisch, 1966

Accession Number

66.242.24

Tags

InteriorsMenWomenDeath

Art Historical Context

Erastus Salisbury Field (1805–1900), a self-taught American folk artist, created *The Death of the First Born* between 1865 and 1880, capturing a dramatic biblical moment from the Book of Exodus. This oil-on-canvas painting (35 x 46 in.) portrays the sorrowful interior scene of Pharaoh's family mourning the death of his firstborn son, struck down by the final plague sent upon Egypt. Field's naive style—characterized by flattened perspectives, vivid colors, and meticulous detail—evokes the emotional intensity of loss, with figures of men and women gathered in quiet anguish. Painted in the post...

About the Artist

Erastus Salisbury Field · 1805–1900

1805–1900

The Death of the First Born

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