Forked Lightning Collection

Lightning in a Thunderstorm
Massive fork lightning strike at night. Forked lightning bolt from the sky to the ground with trees silhouetted in the bottom of the picture and a blue night sky behind

Electric Will-o -the Wisp (engraving)
3628886 Electric Will-o -the Wisp (engraving) by European School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Electric Will-o -the Wisp)

Caythorpe Church, near Grantham, Lincolnshire, struck by Lightning 30 December (engraving)
1098480 Caythorpe Church, near Grantham, Lincolnshire, struck by Lightning 30 December (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Caythorpe Church, near Grantham)

The destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah (engraving)
5228155 The destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah)

A storm approaching Sullivan Butte in Chino Valley at night with a starry sky above, Arizona, United States of America, North America

Your little eyes shine brightly - like lightning! (colour litho)
8656701 Your little eyes shine brightly - like lightning! (colour litho) by German School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Your little eyes shine brightly - like lightning)

The Chene chapelle, or chapel oak, 1882
7125197 The Chene chapelle, or chapel oak, 1882; (add.info.: The Chene chapelle, or chapel oak, an oak tree located in Allouville-Bellefosse in Seine-Maritime, France, seen here in the 19th century)

Myths and legends: the ghost ship attracts the sailors ship against the rocks to make it sink
NWI4930510 Myths and legends: the ghost ship attracts the sailors ship against the rocks to make it sink. Colourful engraving of the 19th century.; (add.info.: Myths and legends)

Prehistory, caves in the cliffs. Engraving 1877
JAB4121659 Prehistory, caves in the cliffs. Engraving 1877; (add.info.: Prehistory, caves in the cliffs. Engraving 1877); Photo ©Jaime Abecasis

Letter Z: These men have knees, praying to God that He will help them, and the light in zigzags, resemble Z
DUV4214786 Letter Z: These men have knees, praying to God that He will help them, and the light in zigzags, resemble Z. 1861 (engraving); (add.info.: "ABC Trim)

Electricity: from the power station to the city lighting, c. 1900-1910 (chromo)
1790232 Electricity: from the power station to the city lighting, c. 1900-1910 (chromo); (add.info.: electricity in France : from the power station to the city lighting (in the background)

The experience of the kite (flying kite) by Benjamin Franklin - Accompanied by his son
PCT4272992 The experience of the kite (flying kite) by Benjamin Franklin - Accompanied by his son, the American physicist (1706-1790)

THOR, Scandinavian Creator God, reworking the Earth. Engraving 1897
JAB4120818 THOR, Scandinavian Creator God, reworking the Earth. Engraving 1897; (add.info.: THOR, Scandinavian Creator God, reworking the Earth. Engraving 1897); Photo ©Jaime Abecasis

Letter Z: These men have knees, praying to God that He will help them, and the light in zigzags, resemble Z
DUV4214796 Letter Z: These men have knees, praying to God that He will help them, and the light in zigzags, resemble Z, 1861 (engraving); (add.info.: "ABC Trim)

Lightning conductor fitted to a building
5321270 Lightning conductor fitted to a building; (add.info.: Lightning conductor fitted to a building, showing how the pit has been dug to ensure the conductor reaches the water table)

Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) tears lightning from the sky - French drawing showing Franklin's popularity
NWI4942203 Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) tears lightning from the sky - French drawing showing Franklin's popularity - Colorisee engraving

The lightning of a Menorah, 1850
3330763 The lightning of a Menorah, 1850; (add.info.: Engraving depicting the lightning of a Menorah (Sabbath Lights) on the first day of the Sabbath

Lightning striking a sailing-ship in a storm at sea - Hand-colored woodcut of a 19th-century illustration
NWI4963884 Lightning striking a sailing-ship in a storm at sea - Hand-colored woodcut of a 19th-century illustration; (add.info)

Roman mythology: Jupiter, king of the gods and god of heaven, with his attributes the eagle
FLO4679705 Roman mythology: Jupiter, king of the gods and god of heaven, with his attributes the eagle and lightning - Eau forte by Jacques Louis Constant Lacerf

Promulgation of The Ten Commandments (colour litho)
5198586 Promulgation of The Ten Commandments (colour litho) by Pinchon, Joseph Porphyre (1871-1953); Private Collection; (add.info.: Promulgation of The Ten Commandments)

Modern Wonders, 1938: High Voltage Test House (colour photo)
8659914 Modern Wonders, 1938: High Voltage Test House (colour photo) by English Photographer, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: High Voltage Test House)

Modern Wonders, 1938: A 500, 000, Volt Flash (colour photo)
8659909 Modern Wonders, 1938: A 500, 000, Volt Flash (colour photo) by English Photographer, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: A 500, 000, Volt Flash)

A week in England (colour litho)
8655889 A week in England (colour litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: A week in England. Man and woman getting soaked in the rain)

Scene from King Lear (litho)
8655659 Scene from King Lear (litho) by Green, Henry Hawes Craven (1837-1910); Private Collection; (add.info.: Scene from Shakespeare's King Lear (Act III, Scene 2)

Cover of " The Red Laughter", Satirical in Colors, 1916_12_16: The opinion of the old god " The blessing
ICA4845812 Cover of " The Red Laughter", Satirical in Colors, 1916_12_16: The opinion of the old god " The blessing of the Pope! Out of here, that would be too convenient

Tam O'Shanter apprehending to ride a horse. Illustration of the poem by Robert Burns (1759-1796), Scottish poet
NWI4927414 Tam O'Shanter apprehending to ride a horse. Illustration of the poem by Robert Burns (1759-1796), Scottish poet

La Baionnette, Satirical in Colours, 1915_11_18: War of 14 -18, Germany Prussia
ICA4933725 La Baionnette, Satirical in Colours, 1915_11_18: War of 14 -18, Germany Prussia, Belligerants and Symbols - Verite (Allegory of) - Illustration by Pierre E

Colorful photo, a man looks at the legs of women of a group surprised by a storm of wind, 1865
LUX4818207 Colorful photo, a man looks at the legs of women of a group surprised by a storm of wind, 1865; (add.info.: Colorful photo)

France, Champagne-Ardenne, Marne (51), Bussy-Letter: Church destroyed by thunder, 1900
LUX4800898 France, Champagne-Ardenne, Marne (51), Bussy-Letter: Church destroyed by thunder, 1900; (add.info.: France, Champagne-Ardenne, Marne (51), Bussy-Letter: Church destroyed by thunder

Biblical scene: earthquake swallowing the Hebrew people who refused to follow Moses
NWI4914930 Biblical scene: earthquake swallowing the Hebrew people who refused to follow Moses. Coloured engraving of the 19th century.; (add.info.: Biblical scene)

Cossacks and Japanese cavalry fighting at the Battle of Wafangou, 1904 (litho)
8655598 Cossacks and Japanese cavalry fighting at the Battle of Wafangou, 1904 (litho) by Koekkoek, Hermanus Willem (1867-1929) (after); Private Collection; (add.info)

Prehistoire, le Deluge - Engraving 1877
JAB4121027 Prehistoire, le Deluge - Engraving 1877; (add.info.: Prehistoire, le Deluge - Engraving 1877); Photo ©Jaime Abecasis

A family of peasants taking fear at the sight of the ball lightning passing through their barn
NWI4952764 A family of peasants taking fear at the sight of the ball lightning passing through their barn. Colour engraving after a 19th century illustration.; (add.info)

La Baionnette, Satirique en Colours, 1916_5_11: War of 14 -18, Life of the Soldier
ICA4844724 La Baionnette, Satirique en Colours, 1916_5_11: War of 14 -18, Life of the Soldier, Brenches - Soldiers - Illustration by Pierre E

Diagram of Meteorology, displaying the various phenomena of the atmosphere, 1846-60 (engraving)
7340562 Diagram of Meteorology, displaying the various phenomena of the atmosphere, 1846-60 (engraving) by Reynolds, James (fl.c.1846-60) & Emslie

Old Testament: People trying to escape from the deluge that comes upon them. Colour engraving of the 19th century
NWI4915162 Old Testament: People trying to escape from the deluge that comes upon them. Colour engraving of the 19th century; (add.info.: Old Testament)

The Day of Wrath (engraving)
8655497 The Day of Wrath (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Day of Wrath. Illustration from His Glorious Appearing - an Exposition of Matthew)

Tam O'Shanter chases by a witch Illustration of the poem by Robert Burns (1759-1796), a Scottish poet
NWI4927475 Tam O'Shanter chases by a witch Illustration of the poem by Robert Burns (1759-1796), a Scottish poet. Colour engraving after a painting by John Faed illustration; (add.info)

Hundred years war: " King Edward III of England vows that he will make peace
ELD4872506 Hundred years war: " King Edward III of England vows that he will make peace, 1360 - After rejecting offers for peace during the Hundred Years War a great thunderstorm frightened

Killed while picking flowers - Cover of "The Eye of the Police", 1913 (engraving)
ICA4950690 Killed while picking flowers - Cover of "The Eye of the Police", 1913 (engraving); Private Collection; Photo © Caricadoc

Lightning, Limber, Lime-kiln, Linchpin, Linnet, Lion, Lizard, Llama, Lobster, Locket, Locksmith, Log-house (engraving)
8650059 Lightning, Limber, Lime-kiln, Linchpin, Linnet, Lion, Lizard, Llama, Lobster, Locket, Locksmith, Log-house (engraving) by German School

A Daughter of Helvius, a Roman Knight, killed by Lightning (engraving)
8658580 A Daughter of Helvius, a Roman Knight, killed by Lightning (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: A Daughter of Helvius, a Roman Knight)

Zeus warring against the Giants (engraving)
8664113 Zeus warring against the Giants (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Zeus warring against the Giants)

Engraving depicting the Roman God Saturn (Greek Cronus), who devoured all his children save Neptune
5309150 Engraving depicting the Roman God Saturn (Greek Cronus), who devoured all his children save Neptune, Pluto and Jupiter who deposed him; (add.info)

Professor Georges Guillaume Richmann (1711-1753) died in his workshop following an experiment with an electrometer
ELD4950986 Professor Georges Guillaume Richmann (1711-1753) died in his workshop following an experiment with an electrometer

Engraving depicting Jupiter (or Jove) the supreme Roman God (Zeus of the Greeks)
5309149 Engraving depicting Jupiter (or Jove) the supreme Roman God (Zeus of the Greeks), son of Saturn (Greek Cronus) who he is dethroning; (add.info)

Victims of the SS Central America, after the hurricane, survivors on a raft, 1857 - Colorisee engraving
NWI4963920 Victims of the SS Central America, after the hurricane, survivors on a raft, 1857 - Colorisee engraving, 19th century - Victims of the SS Central America, wrecked in a hurricane

Thor, son of Woden or Odin. God of thunder in the Scandinavian pantheon, shown wielding his hammer
530761 Thor, son of Woden or Odin. God of thunder in the Scandinavian pantheon, shown wielding his hammer, symbolising thunder and lightning, as he reconstructed the globe

The Wreck, from The Tempest, 1908 (w/c, gouache & pencil) 88;in copyright until 2024; scene from The Tempest by william
CH378624 The Wreck, from The Tempest, 1908 (w/c, gouache & pencil) 88;in copyright until 2024; scene from The Tempest by william Shakespeare (1564-1616) by Dulac

Saint Barbara (Barbara), known as the Great Martyrdom, protector of miners, firefighters and architects
PCT4281796 Saint Barbara (Barbara), known as the Great Martyrdom, protector of miners, firefighters and architects, with two of the attributes of her iconography

Cartoon of the politics of the Second Empire (Bonapartiste Regime) directed by Napoleon III
JOC4401074 Cartoon of the politics of the Second Empire (Bonapartiste Regime) directed by Napoleon III (Charles Louis Napoleon Bonaparte, dit Louis-Napoleon Bonaparte, 1808-1873)

Lightning striking inside the Grand Canyon during the 2023 Arizona Monsoon season, viewed from No Name Overlook between Pinal Point on the left and Lipan Point on the right

Experience of lightning rod, 10 May 1752 by Thomas Francois Dalibard in Marly, 19th century (engraving)
2602853 Experience of lightning rod, 10 May 1752 by Thomas Francois Dalibard in Marly, 19th century (engraving) by French School

3672421

3673696

Death of the French aviators Godard and Panis when their balloon was struck by lightning over Chicago, 1891 (print)
545200 Death of the French aviators Godard and Panis when their balloon was struck by lightning over Chicago, 1891 (print) by French School, (19th century); (add.info.: From Le Petit Journal)

Moses breaks the tablets of law, Illustration from the Dore Bible, 1866
3665608 Moses breaks the tablets of law, Illustration from the Dore Bible, 1866 by Dore, Gustave (1832-83); (add.info.: Moses breaks the tablets of law containing the ten commandments after his)

Thunderstorm, 1896 (oil on canvas)
7380025 Thunderstorm, 1896 (oil on canvas) by Chelmonski, Joseph (1850-1914); 107 x 163 cm; National Museum, Krakow, Poland; (add.info.: by Jozef Chełmonski (1850-1914))

The taking of Christ, 1620-34 circa, (painting)
7128872 The taking of Christ, 1620-34 circa, (painting) by Honthorst, Gerrit van (1590-1656) (follower of); Galleria Spada, Rome, Lazio, Italy; (add.info.: The taking of Christ, 1620-34 circa)

Young woman singing (painting)
7129350 Young woman singing (painting) by Bigot, Trophime (c.1595-p.1650); Galleria Doria Pamphilj, Rome, Italy; (add.info.: Young woman singing, maestro Jacomo (Trophime Bigot)

A lady brought in from a storm at night: illustration from the musical mode Madhu Madhavi, c. 1760 (gouache on paper)
STC140553 A lady brought in from a storm at night: illustration from the musical mode Madhu Madhavi, c.1760 (gouache on paper) by Mughal School (18th century); Victoria & Albert Museum, London

Lightning over Boston Waterfront, Boston, Massachusetts, New England, United States of America, North America

A dying storm at twilight viewed from Lipan Point, Grand Canyon, with Spider Lightning visible, Grand Canyon National Park, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Arizona, United States of America, North America

Deadly lightning strike during a thunderstorm at Feucherolles, France (colour litho)
3097497 Deadly lightning strike during a thunderstorm at Feucherolles, France (colour litho) by French School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

Lightning, 1909-10 (oil on canvas)
3564821 Lightning, 1909-10 (oil on canvas) by Russolo, Luigi (1885-1947); Galleria Nazionale d Arte Moderna e Contemporanea, Rome, Lazio, Italy; (add.info.: Artist: Russolo)

Mountaineering accident on Mont Blanc (colour litho)
2779749 Mountaineering accident on Mont Blanc (colour litho) by French School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Mountaineering accident on Mont Blanc)

French soldiers on manoeuvres being struck by lightning (colour litho)
2779726 French soldiers on manoeuvres being struck by lightning (colour litho) by French School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

Thunder God, Edo Period, 1847 (ink & colour on paper)
1216820 Thunder God, Edo Period, 1847 (ink & colour on paper) by Hokusai, Katsushika (1760-1849); Freer Gallery of Art, Smithsonian Institution, USA; Freer Gallery of Art

Mighty was he to look upon, illustration from Myths and Legends of Babylonia and Assyria by Lewis Spence
STC323931 Mighty was he to look upon, illustration from Myths and Legends of Babylonia and Assyria by Lewis Spence, 1916 (colour litho) by Paul

The House of Habsburg, ca. 1840 (engraving)
7259550 The House of Habsburg, ca. 1840 (engraving); 10.0x15.0 cm; Private Collection; (add.info.: Captions Das Haus Habsburg and Aus d. Kunstanst. D. Bibliogr. Instit. In Hildbh. Martini sc)

An Oversight: an watercolour artist setting himself up on a rock to paint a storm
6031064 An Oversight: an watercolour artist setting himself up on a rock to paint a storm and lamenting the fact he has forgotten to bring water with him (litho) by Rabier

Jupiter "strikes Phaeton unable to drive the chariot of the sun", 18th century, fresco
7225015 Jupiter " strikes Phaeton unable to drive the chariot of the sun", 18th century, fresco by Caccianiga, Francesco (1700-81); Villa Borghese, Rome

Large storm approaching Blue Mesa in Petrified Forest National Park, viewed from the Red Basin Trail, near Holbrook, Arizona, United States of America, North America

Lightning bolts striking Prescott area in the distance with the town of Chino Valley just north of Prescott Town in the foreground, Arizona, United States of America, North America

Lightning storm rolling into Vermilion Cliffs National Monument viewed from Dominguez Escalante Historical Trailhead, Arizona, United States of America, North America

Late night storm during the 2021 Monsoon season rolling into Chino Valley, Arizona, United States of America, North America

Lightning storm rolling across House Rock Valley Road on the west side of Vermilion Cliffs National Monument, Arizona, United States of America, North America

Globular Lightning (engraving)
3628904 Globular Lightning (engraving) by European School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Globular Lightning)

For sale as Licensed Images

Choose your image, Select your licence and Download the media

"Forked Lightning: A Powerful Force of Nature and Symbol of Divine Wrath" In the midst of a raging thunderstorm, forked lightning illuminates the darkened sky, casting an eerie glow upon the world below. This mesmerizing phenomenon has captivated human imagination for centuries, evoking both awe and fear. One cannot help but recall the biblical tale of Sodom and Gomorrah, where forked lightning was said to be unleashed as a divine punishment for their wickedness. Engraved depictions vividly portray this cataclysmic event that forever etched itself into history. The experience of Thomas Francois Dalibard on that fateful day in May 1752 further deepens our understanding. As he bravely conducted experiments with his newly invented lightning rod in Marly, witnessing firsthand its ability to harness this destructive force, humanity took its first steps towards protection against nature's wrath. Yet not all encounters with forked lightning end well. Tragically, French aviators Godard and Panis met their untimely demise when their balloon was struck over Chicago in 1891. This print serves as a haunting reminder of how even our most daring endeavors can succumb to nature's unpredictable fury. It also finds its place within artistry; it symbolizes moments of intense emotion or pivotal events throughout history. From Moses breaking the tablets of law in an illustration from the Dore Bible to dramatic scenes like "The Taking of Christ" painting from 1620-34 circa - these visual representations capture the raw power and significance associated with forked lightning. However, not all associations are rooted in destruction or turmoil. In contrast, we find solace amidst storms through beautiful works such as "Thunderstorm, " an oil-on-canvas masterpiece depicting nature's tempestuous dance across vast landscapes. Artistic expressions extend beyond mere weather phenomena too; they encompass everyday life experiences intertwined with forked lightning's symbolism.