Who painted Study of Moses Striking the Rock and a Procession [verso]?

Study of Moses Striking the Rock and a Procession [verso] was painted by Benjamin West in 1778.

Where can I see Study of Moses Striking the Rock and a Procession [verso]?

Study of Moses Striking the Rock and a Procession [verso] is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Study of Moses Striking the Rock and a Procession [verso]?

Study of Moses Striking the Rock and a Procession [verso] is associated with Romanticism.

Artwork

Study of Moses Striking the Rock and a Procession [verso]

Benjamin West , 1778

Study of Moses Striking the Rock and a Procession [verso] is a chalk drawing by the Romanticist artist Benjamin West. It dates from 1778 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Benjamin West’s 1778 drawing, executed in black chalk on laid paper, presents two separate studies on a single sheet. The verso contains a brief narrative of Moses striking a rock and a procession of figures, rendered in a swift, gestural manner that emphasizes overall composition over fine detail.

Subject & Meaning

The left-hand sketch depicts a crowd gathered around a central figure wielding a staff to split a rock, echoing the biblical episode of Moses providing water for the Israelites. Opposite, a line of individuals advances, some bearing objects, suggesting a ceremonial or migratory movement linked to the same scriptural context.

Technique & Style

West employed loose, rapid chalk strokes that convey motion and mass rather than precise anatomy. The laid paper’s subtle texture is visible, and the artist left the marks unrefined, allowing the viewer to sense the dynamism of the scenes through the energetic, sketch‑like quality of the medium.

History & Provenance

Created in 1778, the drawing is part of West’s preparatory work for larger compositions. It now resides in the collection of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, where it is displayed among other preparatory studies that illustrate the artist’s process during his late eighteenth‑century career.