Moses choosing the seventy elders

De Wit employs a restrained chiaroscuro, allowing light to fall gently on the principal figures while receding shadows give depth to the background hills and palms. The palette is soft, with pastel hues that soften the landscape and focus attention on the central interaction. Spatial layering is achieved through sharper foreground details that gradually blur toward the rear, a hallmark of Rococo sensibility.

Painted in 1737, the work reflects de Wit’s mature period when he was renowned for religious and decorative commissions. After remaining in private hands for over a century, the canvas entered the Rijksmuseum’s holdings, where it has been displayed as part of the museum’s Dutch 18th‑century collection, offering insight into the era’s devotional art.

The composition aligns with the 18th‑century Dutch interest in biblical narratives that could be integrated into domestic interiors. De Wit’s background as an interior decorator informed the painting’s balanced arrangement, making it suitable for both ecclesiastical and secular settings. The inclusion of palm trees and a bright sky also reflects contemporary tastes for exotic, idyllic landscapes within religious storytelling.