The artwork titled “The Firstborn of the Egyptians Are Slain,” is a religious painting created by the esteemed artist Gustave Doré. This piece, which is part of the Romanticism art movement, belongs to the series “The Holy Bible.”
The artwork is a poignant depiction of a biblical scene derived from the Book of Exodus. It captures a dramatic and somber moment filled with anguish and divine intervention. Central to the composition is an angelic figure, presumably the Angel of Death, casting a shadowy presence as it strides through the foreground, sword in hand. Surrounding this figure are the stricken Egyptians, overcome with grief and despair; some are depicted clutching their deceased firstborn, while others are shown in states of shock and disbelief. Doré masterfully uses light and shadow to heighten the emotional intensity, drawing focus to the tragic expressions of the figures and the angel’s ominous form. The architectural elements in the background add to the historical and cultural context, grounding the biblical narrative in a visual representation that is both compelling and harrowing.
