Artwork

Copy after the Punishment of the Rebels ( Destruction of Koran, Dathan and Abirim ), Sandro Botticelli in the Sistine Chapel (Rome)

Copy after the Punishment of the Rebels ( Destruction of Koran, Dathan and Abirim ), Sandro Botticelli in the Sistine Chapel (Rome) is a watercolor work on paper by the Early Renaissance artist Sandro Botticelli. It is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.

About this work

This watercolor shows a chaotic scene of fire and falling figures. It copies a fresco by Botticelli in the Sistine Chapel. The artist used bright colors to copy the original’s drama.

Eliseo Fattorini made this copy in 1871 for the Arundel Society. They shared old art with more people back then. This helped others see works they couldn’t travel to see.

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Overview

This watercolour is a copy of a fresco by Sandro Botticelli, created by Eliseo Fattorini in 1871. It reproduces a scene from the Sistine Chapel's decorative programme.

Subject & Meaning

The scene depicts the punishment of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, illustrating a biblical event. It is part of a larger narrative that parallels the lives of Moses and Christ, symbolizing continuity between the Old and New Testaments.

Technique & Style

Fattorini's watercolour captures the drama of Botticelli's original fresco through the use of bright colours, conveying a chaotic scene of fire and falling figures.

History & Provenance

Fattorini created this copy for the Arundel Society, an organization dedicated to promoting knowledge of art through reproductions. Although the watercolours after Botticelli were not published, they contributed to the society's mission of sharing art with a broader audience.