This painting, made by an unknown 19th-century artist and titled “Landscape with a fire” by the National Museum in Warsaw, was likely inspired by the biblical story of Lot’s family at the time of the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. As the story goes, Lot was warned of the impending destruction by two angels, who went on to tell Lot that he would be safe in the nearby town of Zoar. Urging Lot to flee with his family, the angels implored him to not stop running until he and his loved ones reached their destination, and most of all, the angels stressed that under no circumstances was he to allow himself or his family to look back at the inferno. Lot, unfortunately, would only be partially successful in carrying out the orders of the angels. The story can be found in the Book of Genesis: “The sun had risen on the earth when Lot came to Zoar. Then the Lord rained on Sodom and Gomorrah sulfur and fire from the Lord out of heaven, and he overthrew those cities and all the plain and all the inhabitants of the cities and what grew on the ground. But Lot’s wife, behind him, looked back, and she became a pillar of salt” (Genesis 19:23-26, NRSV translation). Such is the tale that likely inspired the fiery landscape painting. It shows what could be Lot and his daughters walking quickly away from the blaze, while another figure—likely Lot’s wife—can be seen petrified in the background as she looks back toward the burning city.
Written by C. Keith Hansley
Sources:
- https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%2019&version=NRSVUE
- https://cyfrowe.mnw.art.pl/en/catalog/439461
