Who painted The Erection of the Brazen Serpent?

The Erection of the Brazen Serpent was painted by Januarius Zick in 1754.

Where can I see The Erection of the Brazen Serpent?

The Erection of the Brazen Serpent is held by Bode Museum.

What movement is The Erection of the Brazen Serpent?

The Erection of the Brazen Serpent is associated with Rococo painting.

Can I buy a print of The Erection of the Brazen Serpent?

Museum-quality prints of The Erection of the Brazen Serpent are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

The Erection of the Brazen Serpent

Januarius Zick , 1754

The Erection of the Brazen Serpent is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Januarius Zick. It dates from 1754 and is held in the collection of the Bode Museum.

About this work

Overview

Johann Rasso Januarius Zick, a German painter and architect of the mid‑eighteenth century, completed *The Erection of the Brazen Serpent* in 1754. Executed in oil on canvas, the work belongs to Zick’s late‑Baroque period and is now part of the collection of the Gemäldegalerie in Berlin.

Subject & Meaning

The composition visualises the biblical episode from Numbers in which Moses lifts a bronze serpent to cure the Israelites afflicted by venomous bites. Central to the scene is a figure on the ground, seized by a snake, surrounded by a crowd whose gestures convey panic and pleading.

Technique & Style

Zick employs a pronounced chiaroscuro, casting most of the figures in deep shadow while a faint, luminous background provides the only illumination. The serpentine form is rendered in vivid hues that contrast with the muted, earth‑toned garments of the surrounding figures, heightening its visual prominence.

Context

Created during the Rococo phase of the late Baroque, the painting reflects the period’s penchant for dynamic movement and ornate detail, yet its somber palette and dramatic lighting underscore the moral gravity of the biblical narrative.

History & Provenance

Since its completion, the canvas has remained in German public collections, ultimately entering the Gemäldegalerie Berlin, where it is displayed as part of the museum’s 18th‑century German painting holdings.

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Artist & collection

Artist

Januarius Zick

Johann Rasso Januarius Zick (6 February 1730 – 14 November 1797) was a German painter and architect. He is considered to be one of the main masters of the Late-Baroque.