Artwork
Moses Striking the Rock
Moses Striking the Rock is an ink print by the Renaissance artist Master IV. It dates from 1534 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1534, this etching—attributed to the anonymous figure known as Master IV—illustrates the biblical episode in which Moses brings forth water by striking a rock with his staff. The print presents a crowded gathering of figures surrounding a craggy outcrop, their postures suggesting urgency, prayer, or distress as they await the miracle.
Subject & Meaning
The composition centers on a bearded man in a long robe, identified as Moses, whose decisive blow to the stone serves as the focal point. Surrounding participants, also robed, display varied reactions that convey the narrative’s themes of divine provision, faith, and communal reliance on prophetic leadership.
Technique & Style
Executed in fine etching, the work employs intricate line work and cross‑hatching to render texture and depth, from the rugged rock surface to the foliage in the background. The delicate shading creates a subtle gradation of tone, imparting a sense of movement and atmospheric space that enhances the realism of the scene.
History & Provenance
The piece is dated to 1534 and bears the signature of Master IV, a workshop figure active in the early sixteenth century whose identity remains uncertain. The etching has circulated among European print collections since the Renaissance, reflecting the period’s interest in biblical subjects rendered for devotional and educational purposes.
Artist & collection
