# The Death of the Pharaoh’s Firstborn Son

- By: Lourens Alma Tadema (Dronrijp, 1836–1912)
- Date: 1872
- Medium: canvas, oil paint (paint)
- Classification: painting
- Dimensions: height 77 cm x width 124.5 cm
- Credit line: Gift of the heirs of L. Alma Tadema
- Museum: [Rijksmuseum](https://www.rijksmuseum.nl/en/collection/object/SK-A-2664--96deabf875e577c415428b149d571c09)
- Rights: [Public Domain Mark](http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/)
- Picture: https://iiif.micr.io/qRpxU/full/!1920,1080/0/default.jpg
- Who can see it: Teens profiles and older (museums give no ratings; placed by Invisible Network from the museum's own words)

In this scene from the biblical book of Exodus, Moses and Aaron (upper right) visit the pharaoh, who is mourning his son. The Egyptian ruler’s son had died from one of the plagues sent by God to secure the Israelites’ release from Egypt. The gloom of the painting reflects the father’s intense grief. One has to look long and hard to discern all the figures and details.