Description
The painting "Moses Striking the Rock" by artist Leandro Bassano is an impressive work depicting the Biblical story of the prophet Moses striking a rock to make water gush forth in the desert. With an original size of 102 x 12 cm, this masterpiece is a sample of the artistic style of the Italian Renaissance, characterized by the precision in the representation of the human figure and the use of perspective.
The composition of the painting is very interesting, as it shows Moses in the center of the work, with outstretched arms and energetic face, while around him are the Israelites, thirsty and desperate to find water. The figure of Moses stands out for its size and position in the painting, which gives it a great visual impact.
Color is another prominent aspect of this work, in which warm and bright tones are used to represent the desert sun and the light that Moses radiates. The blue and green tones are used to represent the water that gushes from the rock and that satisfies the thirst of the Israelites.
The history of the painting is very interesting, as it was commissioned by Cardinal Federico Borromeo for the church of San Giorgio al Palazzo in Milan in the 17th century. The work was considered one of the artist's most important, and became a symbol of faith and hope in times of need.
Furthermore, there are little-known aspects about this painting, such as the fact that Leandro Bassano worked on it together with his brother Francesco, who were famous for their skill in painting human figures and landscapes.
In short, "Moses Striking the Rock" is a masterpiece of Italian Renaissance painting that stands out for its artistic style, composition, color, and the story behind it. An impressive work that continues to captivate viewers to this day.