1613
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
The Egyptians Pursue the Israelites is a 1613 ink by Antonio Tempesta, a Baroque work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This etching shows a chaotic scene of people fleeing across a desert. On the right, a group with bows and arrows chases them, while on the left, a crowd runs in panic. The background is packed with tiny figures, animals, and swirling clouds—like a storm of chaos. At the center, a large, dramatic wave crashes, drowning some people. The text at the bottom is in Latin, hinting this tells a biblical story. The artist used sharp lines to create movement and drama, almost like the scene is alive. Next, look up etching to see how artists like Tempesta made prints like this.
Antonio Tempesta, also called il Tempestino (1555 – 5 August 1630), was an Italian painter and engraver, whose art acted as a point of connection between Baroque Rome and the culture of Antwerp.
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