The Destruction of Sodom–Abraham Looking Towards Sodom, from "Dalziels' Bible Gallery"
Medium
Wood engraving on India paper, mounted on thin card
Dimensions
Image: 4 3/16 × 6 13/16 in. (10.7 × 17.3 cm) Image: 3 7/16 × 5 15/16 in. (8.7 × 15.1 cm) India sheet: 11 3/16 × 8 3/8 in. (28.4 × 21.2 cm) Mount: 16 3/8 in. × 12 15/16 in. (41.6 × 32.9 cm)
Classification
Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Anonymous Gift, 1926
Accession Number
26.99.1(13)
Rights
Public Domain
Tags
Art Historical Context
Behold *The Destruction of Sodom–Abraham Looking Towards Sodom*, a poignant wood engraving from the lavish *Dalziels' Bible Gallery* (1865–81), produced by the renowned Dalziel Brothers and Thomas Dalziel, with distribution by Camden Press, Scribner and Welford. This print captures the biblical moment from Genesis 19, where Abraham gazes toward the fiery cataclysm engulfing Sodom, symbolizing divine judgment and mercy amid human folly. Rendered at a modest image size of about 4¼ × 6⅞ inches, it invites close contemplation of its intricate details. Crafted as a wood engraving on fine India paper— prized for its smooth surface and ability to capture delicate lines—this technique was the pinnacle of Victorian reproductive printmaking. The Dalziel Brothers, pioneering engravers, transformed artists' drawings into precise, tonal masterpieces for illustrated books, bridging fine art and mass dissemination. Mounted on thin card, this proof exemplifies the era's blend of religious devotion and technical innovation, reflecting Britain's 19th-century fascination with biblical narratives through Pre-Raphaelite-influenced precision. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department (anonymous gift, 1926), it underscores the cultural role of such prints in Victorian homes and galleries, making sacred stories accessible and visually arresting for all.
About the Artist
Camden Press|Scribner and Welford|Dalziel Brothers|Thomas Dalziel (British|American|British) · 1857 |1800 |1839 –1893 |1899 |1893
British, London|New York, NY|British, active 1839–93