Artwork

Finding of Moses

Finding of Moses, by Bonifazio Veronese, unspecified, 1545
Finding of Moses, by Bonifazio Veronese, unspecified, 1545

Finding of Moses is an unspecified painting by the Mannerist artist Bonifazio Veronese. It dates from 1545 and is held in the collection of the Pinacoteca di Brera.

About this work

Overview

Bonifazio Veronese, a mid‑sixteenth‑century painter from the Venetian Republic, executed the canvas *Finding of Moses* in 1545. The work belongs to the Mannerist phase of the Renaissance and is presently displayed in Milan’s Pinacoteca di Brera. It presents a bustling biblical episode rendered with the heightened dynamism characteristic of the period.

Subject & Meaning

The composition illustrates the moment when the infant Moses is discovered among the reeds of the Nile. A woman dressed in dark fabric cradles the child, while a crowd of figures—men, women, and children—gathers around her, suggesting the communal nature of the rescue. The surrounding landscape, with its distant hills and trees, frames the narrative within a natural setting.

Technique & Style

Veronese employs a vivid palette and a fluid arrangement of forms that convey motion across the scene. Light and shadow are modulated to model the figures, echoing the chiaroscuro techniques popular among his contemporaries. The inclusion of a white dog and a sheep in the foreground adds texture and reinforces the lively atmosphere.

History & Provenance

Since its completion in 1545, the painting has remained in the Italian collection sphere, eventually entering the holdings of the Pinacoteca di Brera. Its presence in a major public museum has ensured continued scholarly access and public exposure, contributing to its role in studies of Venetian Mannerism.

Legacy

Bonifazio Veronese’s handling of narrative complexity and color influenced later Venetian artists, notably Andrea Schiavone and Jacopo Tintoretto. Elements of his compositional vigor and figure grouping can be traced in the subsequent works of these painters, marking him as a conduit between early Renaissance traditions and the more dramatic Baroque sensibility.

Artist & collection

Artist

Bonifazio Veronese

Bonifazio Veronese, born Bonifazio de' Pitati (1487 – 19 October 1553), was a Venetian Renaissance painter who was active in the Venetian Republic.

This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: Pinacoteca di Brera open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.