Moses Striking the Rock, Abraham Bloemaert
Abraham Bloemaert
Moses Striking the Rock
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Abraham Bloemaert

Moses Striking the Rock, 1611


Dimensions
83.6 x 118.3 cm
Physical Description
Oil on Oak
Inventory Number
2474
Acquisition
Erworben 2016 als Schenkung eines privaten Unterstützers, Eigentum des Städelschen Museums-Vereins e.V.
Status
On display, 2nd upper level, Old Masters, room 6

Texts

About the Work

This painting illustrates a central event from the Old Testament (Exodus 17:1-7; Numbers 20:2-11): the rescue of the Israelites in the desert when they were close to dying of thirst. They were saved by Moses, who made water gush out of a rock after striking it with his rod. The event is portrayed with great drama, even though the emphasis is more on the reactions of the people than on the miracle-worker and the miracle itself. Accordingly, and in a manner typical for the period in which this work was painted, the foreground is dominated by genre motifs, still-life elements and representations of animals, whereas the actual biblical subject which occasioned this wealth of pictures literally recedes into the background. Dramatic narrative, brilliant colours, meticulous painterly reproduction of the smallest details and dramatic lighting make this painting, signed and dated with the year 1611, a masterpiece and one of the main works of the Utrecht artist Abraham Bloemaert.

Audio

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Work Data

Basic Information

Title
Moses Striking the Rock
Painter
Period Produced
Object Type
Physical Description
Oil on Oak
Material
Technique
Label at the Time of Manufacture
Signiert unten links: ABloemaert fe[cit] / 1611

Property and Acquisition

Institution
Administration
Collection
Creditline
Städel Museum, Frankfurt am Main, Eigentum des Städelschen Museums-Vereins e.V.
Picture Copyright
Public Domain
Acquisition
Erworben 2016 als Schenkung eines privaten Unterstützers, Eigentum des Städelschen Museums-Vereins e.V.

Work Content

Motifs and References

Genre
Main Motif
Persons Shown
Illustrated Passage
  • Bibel, Altes Testament, Exodus 17,6
  • Bibel, Altes Testament, Numeri 20,10-11

Iconclass

Primary
  • 71E1263 Moses strikes the rock twice in front of the assembled people and water gushes out; the people quench their thirst
Secondary

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Last update

15.05.2023