GENTILESCHI, Orazio
(b. 1563, Pisa, d. 1639, London)

Lot and his Daughters

c. 1621
Oil on canvas
Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza, Madrid

The history of Lot is taken from Genesis (19. 1-38). When the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah were about to be destroyed at God's order, angels came and warned Lot to flee with his family. Despite being warned not to, his wife looked back at the burning city of Sodom and was turned into a pillar of salt. Lot and his daughters then took refuge in a cave. Afraid of finding themselves alone on earth and without descendants, Lot's daughters decided to get their father drunk and to seduce him. This latter episode forms the theme of the painting.




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