The Submersion of Pharaoh's Army in the Red Sea c. 1515 - 1549

Titian made this woodcut, The Submersion of Pharaoh's Army in the Red Sea, sometime in the 16th century. It portrays a key event from the Old Testament, but it also reflects the artistic and political climate of its time. In 16th century Venice, the Church was a major patron of the arts, commissioning works that reinforced religious doctrine. But artists, often educated in the classics, also found inspiration in the humanist and republican values. The choice to depict this scene from Exodus could allude to the Venetian Republic's own defiance against imperial powers, such as the Holy Roman Empire. The stark contrasts and dramatic composition, achieved through the woodcut medium, serve not only to tell a biblical story but also to project a sense of Venetian cultural and political identity. The institutions of art and religion often intertwined, shaping how stories were told and interpreted. By consulting historical texts, we can uncover the complex web of influences that shaped Titian’s artistic vision.