The Departure of the Israelites–Destruction of Pharoah and His Host, from "Dalziels' Bible Gallery"

This dramatic wood engraving captures the biblical moment of the Israelites' departure and the destruction of Pharaoh's army. We see the Red Sea parting, creating a tumultuous, almost mountainous wall of water that dwarfs the figures below. On the left, the last of the Israelites ascend a distant hill, their backs to the chaos, while on the right, Pharaoh's chariots and horses are swallowed by the returning waves. The artist uses stark contrasts of light and shadow, typical of wood engraving, to emphasize the divine power at play. Notice the tiny, desperate figures of the Egyptians, their forms contorted in their final moments, highlighting the overwhelming force of nature and divine wrath. This print, made for "Dalziels' Bible Gallery," was part of a major Victorian project to illustrate sacred texts with high-quality engravings.