The Israelites Passing the Red Sea
Original title: The Israelites Passing the Red Sea, from Diversarum Iconum...Series Secunda
kurzbeschreibung
Anton Maria Zanetti the Elder turns to the biblical crossing of the Red Sea in this print of 1740, a subject that stands somewhat apart within his graphic output. It was printed in yellow-green from four woodblocks, measuring 46.5 × 31.5 cm. Flight and pursuit are compressed here into a restless knot of figures.
Description
At the front, figures appear in sharply contrasting poses: some stand upright, others topple or lie on the ground, and raised arms suggest triumph or shock. On the right, horses and chariots emerge, with people rushing toward them. Beyond, a landscape opens out under rolling clouds and a dark, heavy sky that heightens the tension of the event. Grey dominates the tonality, shot through with a yellow-green shimmer arising from the process and the ink colour.
Context
The sheet was made in 1740 as part of the series 'Diversarum Iconum... Series Secunda', which gathers prints after designs by major artists. Zanetti, a Venetian collector and printmaker, became known for his chiaroscuro woodcuts. In the eighteenth century this technique enjoyed a new flowering, and he did much to spread it. The period's appetite for dramatic biblical subjects and Baroque imagery is palpable here.
Impact
Overlapping figures and strong contrasts of light and dark give the design great momentum. The threatening sky and the fleeing figures create a charged atmosphere that draws the viewer into the biblical narrative. Because only a few tones are used, the action gains force, and the eye stays fixed on the figures.
Technique
Four woodblocks and yellow-green ink were used for this sheet, printed in the chiaroscuro manner. Layering several tonal values one over another produces a painterly effect. The precision with which the blocks are keyed to one another attests to Zanetti's craft and his assured handling of light and shadow.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)