Related UCL Art Collections Artwork
John Flaxman, ‘The Crossing of the Red Sea

‘On the Shores’ draws a parallel between the crossing of the Red Sea as depicted in Flaxman’s drawing and the crossing of Morecambe Bay in North-West England. Morecambe Bay is a treacherous area of quicksands and rapid tidal flow. Before the advent of a railway line, travelers from Morecambe and the southern coast of the bay would go by foot or on horseback over the sands to reach the Furness peninsular. Many were drowned on the journey. Today the Guide-over-Sands escorts groups across the bay at low tide.

The piece references this journey, using still images taken on these crossings and video footage of the fast incoming tide.

Patricia Townsend