Artwork
Moses schlägt Wasser aus dem Felsen
Moses schlägt Wasser aus dem Felsen is an unspecified painting by the Early Baroque Italian artist Jacopo Bassano. It dates from 1592 and is held in the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum.
About this work
Overview
Jacopo Bassano’s 1592 oil painting, titled Moses schlägt Wasser aus dem Felsen, presents a bustling wilderness scene. The work is part of the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna and depicts a large group of figures engaged in a communal activity beside a river that winds through a forested landscape.
Subject & Meaning
Although the title references the biblical episode in which Moses provides water from a rock, the visual focus shifts to a secular moment: a crowd gathers around a slain animal, cutting meat and cooking over open flames. The composition suggests themes of survival, hospitality, and the intersection of the sacred narrative with everyday life.
Technique & Style
Bassano employs pronounced chiaroscuro, contrasting bright illumination with deep shadows to heighten the drama of the scene. The painter’s handling of light emphasizes the central fire and the figures’ faces, while the varied textures of fur, foliage, and water demonstrate his skill in rendering natural detail.
History & Provenance
Created in the late Renaissance, the painting entered the holdings of the Kunsthistorisches Museum, where it remains on display. Its provenance traces back to the artist’s workshop in Bassano del Grappa, reflecting the period’s demand for religious subjects rendered with a vivid, genre‑like approach.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Jacopo Bassano was an Italian Renaissance painter of the Venetian school. He was born and died in Bassano del Grappa, and took the village as his surname. Having trained in the workshop of his father, Francesco the…
