Who painted Lot and His Family Leaving Sodom?

Lot and His Family Leaving Sodom was painted by Lucas Emil Vorsterman in 1620.

Where can I see Lot and His Family Leaving Sodom?

Lot and His Family Leaving Sodom is held by Cleveland Museum of Art.

What movement is Lot and His Family Leaving Sodom?

Lot and His Family Leaving Sodom is associated with Baroque.

Artwork

Lot and His Family Leaving Sodom

Lucas Emil Vorsterman , 1620

Lot and His Family Leaving Sodom is a print by the Baroque artist Lucas Emil Vorsterman. It dates from 1620 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. Created in 1620 by the Flemish engraver Lucas Vorsterman, this print illustrates the biblical departure of Lot and his household from Sodom.

About this work

Overview

Created in 1620 by the Flemish engraver Lucas Vorsterman, this print illustrates the biblical departure of Lot and his household from Sodom. The composition shows a small procession in flowing robes, clutching belongings, with a female figure turning her gaze toward the city they are abandoning. The work exemplifies the dramatic visual language of early seventeenth‑century Baroque printmaking.

Subject & Meaning

The image captures the moment described in Genesis when divine judgment destroys Sodom, prompting Lot’s family to flee. By emphasizing the hurried movement and the woman's backward glance, the scene conveys both the urgency of escape and a lingering attachment to the lost city, reflecting themes of salvation, loss, and moral reckoning inherent in the biblical narrative.

Technique & Style

Strong chiaroscuro creates a stark contrast between illuminated figures and a shadowed background, heightening the sense of drama.

Vorsterman employed fine line engraving to render intricate details of clothing, baskets, and architectural fragments. Strong chiaroscuro creates a stark contrast between illuminated figures and a shadowed background, heightening the sense of drama. The composition’s dynamic diagonal arrangement and expressive gestures are hallmarks of Baroque aesthetics, translating the intensity of the story into a static yet kinetic visual experience.

History & Provenance

A specialist in reproductive prints, Vorsterman worked closely with leading artists such as Peter Paul Rubens and Anthony van Dyck, and his output was sought after by patrons including the Earl of Arundel and King Charles I of England. This particular print, part of his early oeuvre, circulated among collectors of the period and remains a representative example of his collaboration with the broader Baroque artistic network.