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Source Description
To make this monumental woodcut—considered one of the most ambitious prints of the Renaissance—Titian probably drew directly on the wooden blocks, after which a skilled cutter completed the blocks. The size rivals that of a painting, and the composition would have hung on a wall. Titian’s bold vision presents nature as a vehicle of God’s mercy and wrath. Moses, at right, having parted the seas for the Israelites to pass, commands them to close over the Egyptian forces (Exodus 14:21–31). Titian propelled the narrative with remarkable unity, dedicating entire blocks to the turbulent sea and rolling clouds that culminate in a magnificent cliff and Renaissance city. Some have interpreted the scene as an allegory of Venice’s troubles with the League of Cambrai, a military alliance that threatened the island city.
Scholar Source Context
Document identity
localId
129886
label
The Submersion of Pharaoh's Army in the Red Sea
core
obj
dtoType
print
pageCount
1
Source metadata
id
129886
contentType
print
title
The Submersion of Pharaoh's Army in the Red Sea
description
To make this monumental woodcut—considered one of the most ambitious prints of the Renaissance—Titian probably drew directly on the wooden blocks, after which a skilled cutter completed the blocks. The size rivals that of a painting, and the composition would have hung on a wall. Titian’s bold vision presents nature as a vehicle of God’s mercy and wrath. Moses, at right, having parted the seas for the Israelites to pass, commands them to close over the Egyptian forces (Exodus 14:21–31). Titian propelled the narrative with remarkable unity, dedicating entire blocks to the turbulent sea and rolling clouds that culminate in a magnificent cliff and Renaissance city. Some have interpreted the scene as an allegory of Venice’s troubles with the League of Cambrai, a military alliance that threatened the island city.
date
1514–15, printed 1549
rights
CC0
rightsUri
CC0
language
en
wikidata
Q79911485
creators
2341
437716
genreSpecific
Print
imageCount
1
source
import
dimensionsRaw
Unframed: 41.5 x 56.3 cm (16 5/16 x 22 3/16 in.)
cul
Italy, Venice
accession
1952.296.8
Source extras
tec
woodcut
tombstone
The Submersion of Pharaoh's Army in the Red Sea, 1514–15, printed 1549. Titian (Italian, c. 1488–1576), Domenico dalle Greche (Italian, 1503–1603). Woodcut; unframed: 41.5 x 56.3 cm (16 5/16 x 22 3/16 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, John L. Severance Fund, 1952.296.8
collection
PR - Woodcut
formerAccessionNumbers
1952.303
citations
citation
Richards, Louise. "The Titian Woodcut by Domenico Dalle Greche." <em>The Bulletin of the Cleveland Museum of Art </em>43, no. 9 (November 1956): 197-201, 203.
page_number
Mentioned: p. 197; Reproduced: p. 199
creditline
John L. Severance Fund
updatedAt
2026-05-29 11:27:01.083000
sourceId
129886
dept
Prints
coll
PR - Woodcut
med
woodcut
creatorTags
male
thumbnail_url
image_url
Single page context
seq
1
pageIndex
0
type
photo
mediaId
f1cc7c383c2ef262