Death of the Firstborn
1865-81
Frederic Leighton’s dramatic scene captures the biblical plague of the firstborn, a moment of sheer devastation in ancient Egypt. A young man lies lifeless on a draped couch, his body limp, while an older, bearded figure—likely a grieving father—looks on in sorrow. To the right, a woman throws her hands up in a gesture of absolute despair, her body language screaming grief. This intricate engraving, based on Leighton's famous painting, brings the tragedy to life with the high emotion typical of Academic art. The decorative borders at the bottom hint that this was part of a grand illustrated Bible, meant to be stared at and pondered by Victorian families.
- Technique
- Engraving
Views: 6