Where can I see Lord deliver us from air, fire, war, famine and sudden death?

Lord deliver us from air, fire, war, famine and sudden death is held by National Museum in Warsaw.

What movement is Lord deliver us from air, fire, war, famine and sudden death?

Lord deliver us from air, fire, war, famine and sudden death is associated with Realism.

Artwork

Lord deliver us from air, fire, war, famine and sudden death

Lord deliver us from air, fire, war, famine and sudden death is an oil painting by the Realist artist Ignacy Gierdziejewski. It dates from 1855 and is held in the collection of the National Museum in Warsaw.

About this work

Overview

Ignacy Gierdziejewski’s 1855 oil on canvas, titled *Lord deliver us from air, fire, war, famine and sudden death*, is part of the collection of the National Museum in Warsaw. The composition presents a turbulent tableau of human figures amidst a sky populated by four mounted riders, one bearing a torch and another a sword, suggesting an atmosphere of crisis.

Subject & Meaning

The ground level shows a crowd in various states of distress—some kneeling, others collapsed—evoking a collective plea for deliverance from multiple calamities. The presence of the riders above, armed and illuminated, can be read as symbolic intercessors or agents of divine intervention confronting the depicted perils.

Technique & Style

Gierdziejewski employs a palette of earth tones juxtaposed with deep blues, heightening the dramatic tension. Strong chiaroscuro contrasts give the figures a three‑dimensional presence, while the dynamic poses of the horsemen convey movement and urgency within the composition.

History & Provenance

Created in the mid‑nineteenth century, the work entered the National Museum in Warsaw’s holdings, where it remains on display. Its acquisition reflects the museum’s commitment to preserving Polish historical painting from the period.