"He Turned Their Waters into Blood" c. 1865 - 1880

"He Turned Their Waters into Blood" (c. 1865-1880) by Erastus Salisbury Field depicts a dramatic scene from the biblical story of the Ten Plagues of Egypt. The painting shows a grand Egyptian temple with a river flowing with blood in the foreground. The scene is filled with people reacting to the plague in various ways, with a sense of panic and fear. Field's work exemplifies his signature style of detailed historical scenes painted in a naive and almost childlike manner. He was known for his meticulous attention to detail and his ability to create a sense of immediacy and drama in his paintings. This artwork is a great example of the 19th-century American interest in biblical narratives.