Lot and His Family Fleeing from Sodom

Old master prints that were made in Germany during the 16th century from The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art. The term ‘old master print’ describes artworks that were made by a printing technique originating from the beginning of 15th century throughout the year 1830. It is well-known in the art trade but an unsophisticated person could simply confuse it with decorative or popular prints. Master prints were widely spread and popular at the end of the 15th century when paper became available and cheap. The term covered several techniques: woodcut, engraving, and etching. Many European artists like Albrecht Dürer, Rembrandt, and Francisco Goya that now are famous for their paintings, initially acquired their international reputation as print masters. As for subjects of the master prints, there were religious topics alongside with social ones: сhivalry scenes, tournaments, battles and so-called ‘Gardens of Love’. Usually, artists didn’t sign their works, and it was Albrecht Dürer who was the first to leave his name on a master print. The collection includes old master prints that were made in Germany during the 16th century. All these images were gathered by the New York Public Library.

According to the Bible, Sodom and Gomorrah were two cities in the ancient land of Canaan that were destroyed by God because of their inhabitants' wickedness and lack of hospitality. The exact location of these cities is unknown, but they are traditionally believed to have been located near the Dead Sea in modern-day Israel. The story of Sodom and Gomorrah is told in the book of Genesis. It is said that the cities were filled with immoral and sinful people, who were unkind to travelers and refused to show hospitality. God decided to destroy the cities and sent two angels to warn Lot, a righteous man who lived in Sodom, to flee with his family. The angels also struck the men of the city with blindness, so that they could not harm Lot and his family. After Lot and his family escaped, God caused a rain of fire and sulfur to fall from the sky, destroying Sodom and Gomorrah and all their inhabitants. The cities were never rebuilt, and the area remains desolate to this day. The story of Sodom and Gomorrah serves as a warning against wickedness and lack of hospitality.