Artwork
Moses and the Brazen Serpent
Moses and the Brazen Serpent is an ink drawing by the Romanticist artist Luigi Ademollo. It dates from 1806 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Moses and the Brazen Serpent is a drawing by Luigi Ademollo, created in 1806 using pen and black ink, with black wash and white gouache on wove paper.
Subject & Meaning
The drawing depicts a biblical scene where a crowd of people, some standing and some kneeling, reach towards a giant snake coiled on a pole, their faces turned towards it in desperation, suggesting a narrative of salvation or healing.
Technique & Style
The drawing is characterized by scratchy, uneven lines and the use of white gouache to add texture to shadows, conveying a sense of movement and emotion through quick, rough strokes, giving it a sketch-like quality.
Artist & collection
Moses and Aaron before Pharaoh, with the Rods Turned into Serpents
Moses Drawing Water From the Rock
Noah's Warning about the Coming Flood Goes Unheeded
An Antique Sacrifice
The Ashes of Trajan Carried in a Triumphal Procession
The Body of Hadrian Laying in State next to His Mausoleum
The Sack of the Temple at Jerusalem
