Artwork
The Story of Lot: Lot and His Family Fleeing Sodom
The Story of Lot: Lot and His Family Fleeing Sodom is a print by the Renaissance artist Heinrich Aldegrever. It dates from 1555 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1555 by Heinrich Aldegrever, this etching depicts the biblical flight of Lot and his family from the doomed city of Sodom. Rendered in fine, incised lines, the scene captures a moment of urgent escape under a turbulent sky. The work is part of the collection at The Cleveland Museum of Art and exemplifies Aldegrever’s mastery of the etching medium during the Northern Renaissance.
Subject & Meaning
The print illustrates the moment from Genesis when Lot, warned of divine judgment, flees Sodom with his wife and daughters. The burning city behind them signifies divine retribution, while the figures’ movement conveys haste and peril. The calm expressions of the women contrast with the chaos, suggesting resignation or inner resolve, reinforcing the narrative’s spiritual gravity.
Technique & Style
Aldegrever employed deep, controlled etching lines to define the textures of flowing garments and the agitated sky.
Aldegrever employed deep, controlled etching lines to define the textures of flowing garments and the agitated sky. The contrast between the dark, jagged flames and the smoother contours of the figures creates visual tension. His precise line work, characteristic of Northern Renaissance printmaking, emphasizes detail without clutter, guiding the viewer’s eye through the narrative’s motion and stillness.
History & Provenance
The print was produced during Aldegrever’s active years in Westphalia, a period when he was known for small-scale religious and mythological subjects. It entered the Cleveland Museum of Art’s collection through established acquisition channels, likely as part of a broader interest in 16th-century German prints. Its preservation reflects its significance within the artist’s oeuvre and the printmaking tradition of the era.
Context
Aldegrever worked amid the religious upheavals of the Reformation, when biblical narratives were frequently depicted in prints for private devotion. His style, influenced by Albrecht Dürer and Italian engravers, combined Northern precision with classical composition. This work reflects the era’s demand for accessible, morally charged imagery that could be widely distributed and privately contemplated.
Legacy
Aldegrever’s etchings, including this one, contributed to the development of narrative printmaking in Northern Europe. His ability to convey drama through line and composition influenced later generations of engravers. Though less widely known than contemporaries, his works remain studied for their technical discipline and quiet emotional resonance within the broader Renaissance print tradition.
Artist & collection
Artist
Heinrich Aldegrever or Aldegraf was a German painter and engraver. He was one of the "Little Masters", the group of German artists making small old master prints in the generation after Albrecht Dürer.
