Artwork
Moses Striking the Rock
Moses Striking the Rock is a print by Giovanni Antonio Lorenzini. It dates from 1750 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
Moses Striking the Rock is a print reproducing a composition by Jacopo da Ponte, known as Il Bassano. The engraving, created by Giovanni Antonio Lorenzini in 1750, depicts a scene from the biblical narrative.
Subject & Meaning
The print shows a crowded scene in a rocky landscape, with a man striking a rock with a staff, surrounded by people tending to animals and carrying buckets. The scene is likely a representation of Moses striking the rock to produce water, as described in the biblical account.
Technique & Style
The black-and-white print employs chiaroscuro, using deep shadows and sharp lines to create a sense of movement and drama. The contrast between light and dark areas adds depth and tension to the scene.
History & Provenance
The original composition was held in the Uffizi Gallery in Florence. Lorenzini's engraving was produced in 1750, based on Il Bassano's earlier painting.
Artist & collection
Artist
These prints show religious scenes and classical stories from the late 1600s to mid-1700s.
Rachel Concealing Laban's Idols
The Feast of the Bohemians
Rachel Concealing Laban's Idols
The Stopping Place: The Feast of the Bohemians
The Gathering of Manna
Laban Searching for Idols in Rachel's Baggage
The Feast of the Bohemians
Banditti Robbing Fishermen
The Exodus from Egypt
The Madonna and Child at Left, with a File of Angels
A Drinking Child with Resting Peasants
The Husbandman