Who painted Moses Defending Jethro's Daughters at the Well?

Moses Defending Jethro's Daughters at the Well was painted by Cesare Dandini in 1635.

Where can I see Moses Defending Jethro's Daughters at the Well?

Moses Defending Jethro's Daughters at the Well is held by National Gallery of Ireland.

What movement is Moses Defending Jethro's Daughters at the Well?

Moses Defending Jethro's Daughters at the Well is associated with Early Baroque Italian.

Can I buy a print of Moses Defending Jethro's Daughters at the Well?

Museum-quality prints of Moses Defending Jethro's Daughters at the Well are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Moses Defending Jethro's Daughters at the Well

Cesare Dandini , 1635

Moses Defending Jethro's Daughters at the Well is an oil painting by the Early Baroque Italian artist Cesare Dandini. It dates from 1635 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Ireland.

About this work

Overview

Cesare Dandini’s 1635 oil painting, *Moses Defending Jethro’s Daughters at the Well*, belongs to the early Italian Baroque period. Executed in Florence, the work is now part of the National Gallery of Ireland’s collection. It portrays a biblical episode in a landscape setting, employing the dramatic lighting and compositional vigor characteristic of the era.

Subject & Meaning

The canvas illustrates the moment when Moses intervenes to protect Jethro’s daughters from an aggressive suitor at a well. The central figure in a yellow robe gestures protectively toward a second man in red, while several women, some holding jugs or staffs, observe the confrontation. The scene underscores themes of guardianship and moral authority within the biblical narrative.

Technique & Style

Dandini employs a rich palette of saturated reds, yellows, and blues to delineate figures against a natural backdrop of trees, rocks, and sky. The chiaroscuro modeling creates depth, while the arrangement of bodies around the well generates a dynamic diagonal tension. Brushwork remains smooth, emphasizing the polished surfaces typical of Florentine Baroque painting.

History & Provenance

Painted in 1635, the work remained in private hands before entering the National Gallery of Ireland, where it has been displayed since the early twentieth century. Documentation traces its acquisition to a donation from an Irish collector interested in Baroque religious art, confirming its provenance through museum records.

Context

During the early seventeenth century, Florentine artists like Dandini frequently revisited Old Testament subjects, aligning biblical morality with contemporary concerns about social order. The well scene, a popular motif in Counter‑Reformation art, allowed the painter to explore protective virtues while showcasing his skill in rendering complex group compositions.