Moses at right telling the Israelites to gather the manna and at left Moses striking the rock
Original title: Moses at right telling the Israelites to gather the manna and at left Moses striking the rock
kurzbeschreibung
Giulio Bonasone brings together two episodes from the Book of Exodus in this 1546 engraving: on the left, Moses instructs the Israelites to gather manna; on the right, he strikes a rock with his staff and water gushes forth. The print measures 27.4 × 34.8 cm and is executed in the engraving technique.
Description
Two groups of people shape the layout: on the left Moses stands with his staff raised, directing a crowd that handles vessels and moves to gather; on the right he strikes a rock with a stick while another throng looks on. The figures wear contemporary-traditional garments and press closely together. Buildings and a hilly landscape rise behind them. The linework is precise and detailed, with evenly distributed light.
Context
Giulio Bonasone, a sixteenth-century Italian engraver, was active in Bologna and Rome. His sheet of 1546 appeared in an era when biblical subjects circulated widely in print. It belongs to a series of engravings of Old Testament scenes made for collectors and art lovers. Bonasone's work reflects the influence of the Roman High Renaissance, notably Raphael and Giulio Romano.
Impact
The dense arrangement and clear linework give the sheet a lively, narrative impact. By setting two scenes side by side, Moses's leadership and divine providence come to the fore. The even lighting lends the engraving a factual, documentary tone characteristic of Renaissance printmaking.
Technique
The print uses engraving: a burin cuts lines into a copper plate, allowing fine, precise lines and detailed rendering of figures and landscape. Printed with ink on paper, the sheet appears monochrome in black and white.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)