‘Departure of the Israelites, and the Destruction of Pharaoh and his Host,’ by Thomas Dalziel

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The Departure of the Israelites, and the Destruction of Pharaoh and his Host

Thomas Dalziel

Date uncertain: 1863 –1880

Proof wood engraving cut by the Dalziel Brothers, printed on India paper

The double image: 8¼ x 7 inches

Illustration in Dalziels’ Bible Gallery, Plate 31

The opening design is a vivid tableau of the oppressed Israelites leaving Egypt Exodus12: 31–33. The second is a good example of Dalziel’s talent as a landscape and epic artist, representing the moment when the Red Sea closes on Pharaoh and his army (14: 26–28). [Commentary continues below.]

The disorder of the Egyptians, as they flounder around on the water, is in marked contrast to the organized movement of the Jews in the first image.

Scanned image and text by Simon Cooke. [Click on image to enlarge it, and mouse over the text for links.] You may use this image without prior permission for any scholarly or educational purpose as long as you (1) credit the person who scanned the image and (2) link your document to this URL in a web document or cite the Victorian Web in a print one.

Bibliography

Dalziels’ Bible Gallery. London: Routledge, 1881 [1880].

Created 6 August 2026