The Destruction of Pharaoh's Army 1792

Philippe Jacques de Loutherbourg's 1792 painting "The Destruction of Pharaoh's Army" depicts a dramatic scene from the Book of Exodus, in which Moses parts the Red Sea, allowing the Israelites to escape while the pursuing Egyptian army is engulfed by the returning waters. Loutherbourg, known for his theatrical backdrops, masterfully uses light and shadow to create a sense of awe and terror. The swirling clouds and turbulent waves convey the power of the divine, while the frantic figures of the drowning soldiers highlight the consequences of Pharaoh's defiance. This dramatic scene, now housed in the Art Institute of Chicago, continues to capture the imaginations of viewers centuries later.