Moses and the Bronze Serpent, 1600s, Oil on Canvas, Framed

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Oil on canvas, applied to a reinforced canvas. 17th-century Northern Italian school. The scene is taken from the biblical book … Read more Oil on canvas, applied to a reinforced canvas. 17th-century Northern Italian school. The scene is taken from the biblical book of Numbers: because the Israelites, fleeing Egypt and wandering in the desert, complained to God about the lack of food and water, God sent poisonous snakes to exterminate them, but also ordered Moses to raise a bronze serpent on a pole, so that anyone bitten by it would be healed. Symbolically, this gesture, turning one's gaze toward the serpent, implied an act of conversion and faith in God. In this representation, the pole has the specific shape of a cross, anticipating the salvation that will come to humanity from the Crucified and Risen Christ, who frees humanity from the sin symbolized by the serpent. Moses is at the center of the scene and is pointing to the pole with the serpent, flanked by his brother Aaron; around the men and women of Israel, some overwhelmed by serpents, others already kneeling as supplicants asking for God's forgiveness. The work is presented in a frame composed of late 19th century elements, adapted. This piece is attributed to the mentioned designer/maker. It has no attribution mark and no
official proof of authenticity,
however it is well documented in design history. I take full responsibility for any authenticity



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