Artwork

Moses and Aaron Changing the Rivers of Egypt to Blood

Moses and Aaron Changing the Rivers of Egypt to Blood, by Bartholomeus Breenbergh, oil, 1631
Moses and Aaron Changing the Rivers of Egypt to Blood, by Bartholomeus Breenbergh, oil, 1631

Moses and Aaron Changing the Rivers of Egypt to Blood is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Bartholomeus Breenbergh. It dates from 1631 and is held in the collection of the J. Paul Getty Museum.

About this work

Overview

Moses and Aaron Changing the Rivers of Egypt to Blood is a 1631 oil painting by Dutch Golden Age artist Bartholomeus Breenbergh, depicting a pivotal religious moment amidst a dramatic landscape.

Subject & Meaning

The painting illustrates a biblical scene where Moses and Aaron miraculously turn Egypt's rivers to blood, conveyed through a red-hued river and the varied reactions of onlooking figures, ranging from shock to horror.

Technique & Style

Breenbergh employs chiaroscuro to amplify emotional depth, contrasts vibrant colors for spatial depth, and incorporates architectural ruins with overgrown vegetation, blending his Italianate landscape influences with the scene's dramatic religious narrative.

History & Provenance

Created after Breenbergh's return to Amsterdam in 1630, following an 11-year period in Rome (1619-1630), the painting is now part of the J. Paul Getty Museum's collection.

Context

This work reflects Breenbergh's adaptation of Italianate styles to Dutch Golden Age themes, combining religious subject matter with landscape elements characteristic of his oeuvre.

Legacy

While specific legacy details are not provided, the painting's presence in a prominent museum collection suggests its continued relevance as an example of Breenbergh's style and the era's artistic practices.

Artist & collection

Portrait of Bartholomeus Breenbergh

Artist

Bartholomeus Breenbergh

Bartholomeus Breenbergh (before 13 November 1598 – after 3 October 1657) was a Dutch Golden Age painter of Italian and Italianate landscapes, in Rome (1619-1630) and Amsterdam (1630-1657).

This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: J. Paul Getty Museum open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.