The Philistines’ seizing of the Ark of the Covenant from the Israelites, with its subsequent placement at Ashdod in the temple of Dagon (in modern day Israel), brought extreme consequences. Through divine intervention a terrible plague afflicted the population. Only the return of the ark to the Israelites would stop the disease from further ravaging the city.

The biblical episode is illustrated in this print, which is a faithful reproduction, though in reverse, of a painting by Nicolas Poussin of the plague of Ashdod dated 1630/31 (Paris, Musée du Louvre). The background, with its antique and modern architectural elements, recreates an imagined view of Ashdod, which the artist would not have known first-hand. However, the scene in the foreground is depicted with greater naturalism. Poussin had witnessed the effects of the bubonic plague when living in Italy, at about the same time when he was painting The plague of Ashdod.

Nevertheless, like many artists who learn from the art of their predecessors, Poussin would have been familiar with the print after Raphael's Plague of Phrygia (G.1990.WL.2968). Indeed, the scene at the centre foreground, with the child about to suckle from his dead mother, was directly inspired by Raphael's own work. However, Poussin’s composition further emphasises the reality of the destruction brought about by the illness, and shows several bodies lying on the ground or being carried away.

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Nicolaus Poussin - Verzeichniss der nach seinen Gemälden Gefertigten... [usually refers to Courtauld Book Library copy with Anthony Blunt's annotations when there is a letter after the number]
Fig. p. no. 77

Inscription: Nic. Poussin Pinx. / L'Arche du Seigneur ayant esté prise par les Philistins, et mise aupres de l'Idole de Dagon, dans la / Ville d'Azot, l'Idole tomba, la teste et les mains coupées, et Dieu frapa les habitans dans la plus secrete / partie de leur corps: la terre produisit des rats, et il y eut une grande mortalité dans la ville. 1. Liu des Roys Ch. 5. / D'apres le tableau du Poussin qui est dans le Cabinet du Roy, haut de 4 pieds et demy, sur six pieds de large. //

Inscription: L'Arche du Seigneur ayant esté prise par les Philistins, et mise aupres de l'Idole de Dagon, dans la / Ville d'Azot, l'Idole tomba, la teste et les mains coupées, et Dieu frapa les habitans dans la plus secrete / partie de leur corps: la terre produisit des rats, et il y eut une grande mortalité dans la ville. 1. Lui. des Roys Ch. 5. / D'apres le tableau du Poussin qui est dans le Cabinet du Roy, haut de 4 pieds et demy, sur six pieds de large. //

Inscription: Area Domini a Philistoeis capta, et juxta I dolum Dagon collocata in urbe Azot, corruit Dagon, / capite et manibus abscissis, et percussit Dominus Azotios in secretiori parte natium: et nati sunt / mures, et facta est confusio mortis magna in ciuitate. 1. Reg. cap. 5. / Goyton [in reverse] / Ad Tabulam Nic. Poussin, altam 4. pedes cum dimidio, latum 6 pedes, in Pinachothecâ regiâ. Steph. Picart Rom.us Sculp. 1677. //

Inscription: A.77 //

Inscription: 2 / A77 717/59(6) / Warburg / BL983Y //