Moses Striking the Rock
Artist
Hendrick de Clerck
Brussels about 1570 – Brussels 1630
Title
Moses Striking the Rock
Date
About 1590
Materials
Oil on wood
Dimensions
86.4 x 86.4 cm
Credits
Purchase, Horsley and Annie Townsend Bequest, inv. 1969.1624
Collection
Western Art
This painting depicts Moses striking the rock at Horeb with his rod to provide water for the Israelites (Exodus 17:5–6). The subject was frequently portrayed in de Clerck's work; in fact, the Museum owns another Moses Striking the Rock by the Flemish Mannerist master dating from about twenty years later that is exhibited nearby. The theme is apt for a dining room. The decorative nature of the picture, in which the subject matter seems less important than the presentation of a complex and figure-filled composition, is underscored by the abundance of serving vessels, the charming variety of the participants’ poses, the forest setting and a brilliant colourism.
