The Seven Trumpets of Jericho 1902

James Tissot rendered this image with watercolor to illustrate the biblical tale of the siege of Jericho. At the heart of this piece, the seven trumpets, or Shofars, stand out, played by priests to bring down the city walls. These trumpets are not mere instruments but powerful symbols rooted in ancient rituals. Depictions of musical instruments resonate across cultures, echoing the power of sound to influence spiritual and physical realms. Consider the Roman tubae heralding both victory and doom, and the association of trumpets with celestial announcements of angels. We see this cyclical progression across time; the shofar's blast, a call to both worship and war. In Tissot's work, it embodies the collective will and divine mandate, an emotional and psychological force engaging viewers on a deep, subconscious level. These symbols are not static; they evolve, adapt, and resurface, laden with new meanings as history unfolds.