The Passage through the Red Sea

A print reproducing, in reverse, the tapestry of The Passage through the Red Sea, one from a set of tapestries illustrating scenes from the Life of Moses. Lettered with attribution of the design to Raphael and printmaker's name. Lettered at upper left and right with name and titles of Guglielmo Gonzaga, Duke of Mantua (r.1550-87). This print is from a series generally dated 1728, reproducing seven tapestries from the before-mentioned set (including a soprapporta with putti playing among garlands).

Scholars have generally assumed that the set of the Story of Moses was woven in the workshop of Nicolas Karcher in Mantua, after designs showing stylistic relation to Giulio Romano, who has often been credited as the designer of the whole set, the original size of which is subject of debate. Although all the extant tapestries - now in the Museo del Duomo, Milan - carry the arms of Guglielmo Gonzaga, the exact identity of the set's commissioner and its execution date remain controversial. For further discussion, see Bibliographic References.