The Red Sea and the Wrath of God in Antonio Tempestas Masterpiece on Marble

In this episode of Anatomy of an Artwork, discover Antonio Tempesta’s The Egyptians Drowning in the Red Sea, a visceral rendering of the biblical passage in which Moses and the Israelites pass through the Red Sea while the Egyptian army is destroyed. Masterfully executed in oil on Italian red marble, the work’s magnificence lies in the way the artist incorporates vivid patterns of the stone into the image. The Egyptians Drowning in the Red Sea is offered as a highlight of Sotheby’s Inspired by Chatsworth: A Selling Exhibition. On view alongside Treasures From Chatsworth: The Exhibition, Inspired by Chatsworth presents a carefully curated group of exceptional artworks and objects that draw inspiration from the legendary Devonshire collection.