Artwork
Moses Strikes the Rock
Moses Strikes the Rock is an unspecified painting by the Mannerist artist Jan Snellinck. It dates from 1594 and is held in the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum.
About this work
Overview
Jan Snellinck, a Flemish artist active in the late 16th century, painted *Moses Strikes the Rock* in 1594. The work exemplifies his engagement with religious subjects and is now part of the Kunsthistorisches Museum’s collection.
Subject & Meaning
The canvas illustrates the biblical episode in which Moses, staff in hand, brings forth water by striking a rock. A crowd gathers around him, their gestures and expressions emphasizing the miracle’s immediacy and the communal reliance on divine provision.
Technique & Style
Executed in a Mannerist idiom, the painting employs a restrained palette of earth tones and blues to model space. Snellinck’s handling of chiaroscuro—sharp contrasts of light and shadow—gives the figures a three‑dimensional presence, while the dynamic poses convey movement.
History & Provenance
Beyond his reputation for large altarpieces and battle scenes, Snellinck also dealt in art and collected works. *Moses Strikes the Rock* entered the Kunsthistorisches Museum’s holdings through the museum’s historic acquisitions of Flemish Baroque and Mannerist paintings.
Context
The work reflects the Counter‑Reformation’s emphasis on vivid, didactic biblical narratives. Its dramatic composition and heightened emotionality align with contemporary Flemish efforts to make scriptural events visually compelling for devotional audiences.
Artist & collection
Artist
Jan Snellinck or Jan Snellinck (I) (c. 1548 – 1 October 1638) was a Flemish painter, draughtsman and designer of tapestries, prints and frescoes. He is known for his large altarpieces and was also recognized as a…
