The Fifth Plague of Egypt

Turner showed this large canvas at the Royal Academy exhibition in London in 1800. He was then 24 and eager to impress the critics: it was the largest canvas submitted that year by a young artist. It is also one of the first works in which he used an extreme landscape and nature unleashed to explore the sublime.

Despite its title, the painting shows the scene of the seventh plague: in the Book of Exodus, Moses stretches his arms towards the sky, and God sends thunder, hail and fire down on Pharaoh and his people. Turner probably named the wrong plague when he submitted the painting, but the title was never changed. In the foreground, however, two dead horses and a dead man recall the previous plague, the pestilence of livestock.

The painting was bought by the collector William Beckford as early as April 1800.

In the Heritage range, this work is linked to Tom Cuzor, who recognises Turner as an influence.

Original work: Joseph Mallord William Turner (English, 1775-1851), The Fifth Plague of Egypt, 1800, oil on canvas, 121.9 × 182.9 cm. Indianapolis Museum of Art at Newfields, Gift in memory of Evan F. Lilly (accession number 55.24). Public domain work, digital image from Artvee (artvee.com).

This art print is a reproduction, printed in France by Atelier Kyodai Print on 230 gsm premium matte paper. It is available in two sizes: 30 × 40 cm and 50 × 70 cm.

A sky tearing apart, a city swallowed by hail and fire: at 25, Turner painted divine wrath and established himself as a master of the sublime.

Joseph Turner page →

230 gsm premium matte paper
Printed by Atelier Kyodai Print

Paper and process are chosen with the artist and the workshop to respect the original work. Every copy is checked before shipping. Printed in France.

Magnetic hanging bars: one 2 cm-wide natural wood bar at the top, one at the bottom, holding the print with magnets, with no holes and no damage to the paper. Lengths of 31, 51 and 71 cm to match the sizes, with a hanging cord. Delivered in the tube with your print.

Wooden frame: natural-finish wooden frame with a protective plexiglass front. Available for the 30 × 40 and 50 × 70 cm sizes. Your work arrives already framed, ready to hang: it ships in a box, not in a tube.

Made to order: another size, another paper, a special project? Send us your request: quote within 24 h, no commitment.

Ships within 5 business days in a hexagonal tube, tracked and insured. Fine Art prints travel in double packaging: a rigid round tube slipped inside a second square tube that keeps it from rolling and absorbs knocks. Works ordered with a wooden frame arrive already framed and ship in a box. Free shipping from €150 within mainland France (collectibles excluded).

Returns within 14 days, numbered editions included: the work comes back in its original tube, unframed and in perfect condition. Only prints dedicated to your name or made in a custom size cannot be returned or exchanged, unless faulty on arrival.