The Crossing of the Red Sea, Paolo Veronese (Verona, 1528 - Venice, 1588); ca. 1560
Oil on canvas
Poggio a Caiano, Museo della Natura Morta
One of the most important stories in the Bible is the flight of Moses and the Jews from Egypt, pursued by the Pharaoh's army. As they approached the Red Sea, Moses, with the aid of God, held his hands out over the water and opened up a vast gap through which the Jews reached safety on the opposite shore. When Moses spread out his hands again, the sea closed up, carrying away the Pharaoh's soldiers with their horses and chariots. Veronese captured this moment in a grand view from above, with a vast sky lit with a pink, grey and blue glow, using a technique found in many of his fresco cycles. The tree at the centre of the scene serves to define the depth of the space. In the background on the left, there is the crowd of Jews, who are now out of harm's way, while in the middle of the scene, the desperate struggle of the soldiers and horses is portrayed, as they try to escape the waves. This is one of Veronese's most powerful and dramatic works, with the stormy landscape matching and emphasising the emotions of the figures.; IMGP1409.JPG; PENTAX K-1 Mark II; f/3.5; 1/20; 3200; ©ROY_GRUBB [5249]