Lot flees Sodom

The canvas illustrates the biblical episode from Genesis in which Lot, his family, and their possessions escape the divine destruction of Sodom. Figures in contemporary dress—men, women, and children—are shown fleeing the burning city, their eyes turned back toward the flames, emphasizing the drama of divine judgment and human survival.

Veronese employs a rich palette of saturated hues and meticulous detailing, characteristic of his Venetian training. The composition balances dynamic movement with a structured arrangement of figures, while the luminous treatment of light and atmospheric smoke demonstrates the artist’s skill in rendering texture and depth in oil.

The painting entered the Austrian imperial collection in the 17th century and has remained in the Kunsthistorisches Museum since the museum’s foundation. It has been documented in several catalogues of Veronese’s oeuvre, confirming its attribution to the master and its dating to the early 1590s.

Created during a period when Veronese was celebrated alongside Titian and Tintoretto, the work reflects the Venetian penchant for grand biblical narratives rendered with theatricality. Its Mannerist sensibility—elongated figures, complex poses, and vivid coloration—places it within the broader shift from High Renaissance balance toward more expressive visual storytelling.