The Exodus from Egypt
Medium
engraving on laid paper
Dimensions
plate: 21.4 x 29.5 cm (8 7/16 x 11 5/8 in.) sheet: 29 x 37.9 cm (11 7/16 x 14 15/16 in.)
Classification
Department
CG-E
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Gift of the Estate of Leo Steinberg
Accession Number
2011.139.103
Art Historical Context
Behold *The Exodus from Egypt* (1585), an exquisite engraving by Flemish artist Jan Sadeler I, faithfully reproducing a design by Maarten van Cleef. This captures the dramatic biblical narrative from the Book of Exodus, depicting Israelites' perilous flight from Pharaoh's army across the parted Red Sea. Created during the late Northern Renaissance, it reflects the era's fascination with religious history and moral storytelling, blending intricate detail with a sense of awe-inspiring scale. Sadeler's mastery of engraving shines through in the fine lines incised into a metal plate, inked, and p...