Death of the Firstborn, from "Dalziels' Bible Gallery"

In this dramatic wood engraving, a mother collapses in grief, cradling her lifeless child on her lap. The scene, taken from the biblical story of the tenth plague, shows the moment of devastation when the firstborn in every Egyptian household dies. The composition is tightly focused on the figures, their forms illuminated by a stark, almost theatrical light that emphasizes their anguish. The mother's head is thrown back, her mouth open in a silent scream, while her other children huddle around her, their small bodies expressing fear and confusion. The stark contrast of light and shadow, typical of engravings meant for mass reproduction in the 19th century, heightens the emotional intensity, drawing the viewer into this profound moment of sorrow and loss. Lord Leighton Frederic created this image as part of a series illustrating the Bible, published in "Dalziels' Bible Gallery."