Moses Telling the Israelites to Gather the Manna and Moses Striking the Rock
Giulio Bonasone|Polidoro da Caravaggio
Date unknown · Engraving · Drawings and Prints
This print combines two related episodes from the Old Testament Book of Exodus. At left, Moses strikes a rock to reveal the stream of water that God had promised him would quench the Israelites’ thirst during their escape through the desert to the Promised Land. At right, Moses tells the Israelites to gather manna, food provided by God to sustain his people during their flight. The horizontal format that resembles a frieze elegantly unites the two episodes. The inscription at lower right of the print attributes its design to the artist Parmigianino (Girolamo Francesco Maria Mazzola, 1503–1540), but it was actually inspired by a Roman fresco, now lost, painted by Polidoro da Caravaggio (1492–1543).
- Artist
- Giulio Bonasone|Polidoro da Caravaggio
- Date
- Date unknown
- Medium
- Engraving
- Department
- Drawings and Prints
- Credit line
- Bequest of Phyllis Massar, 2011
