Artwork
Moses Striking the Rock
Moses Striking the Rock is an oil painting by the Early Baroque Italian artist Abraham Bloemaert. It dates from 1598 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
Nude figures in the lower foreground introduce an allegorical dimension, possibly alluding to the life-giving power of divine intervention over barren earth.
The painting depicts the biblical episode in which Moses strikes a rock to produce water for the thirsty Israelites during their desert wanderings (Exodus 17:1–7). Bloemaert renders the moment with dynamic figural grouping: a muscular Moses wields his staff at center while bystanders, including men, women, and children, react with gestures of need and relief. Cattle and a dog appear in the background, grounding the scene in a harsh wilderness.
Nude figures in the lower foreground introduce an allegorical dimension, possibly alluding to the life-giving power of divine intervention over barren earth. The composition’s Mannerist strain, elongated limbs and expressive poses, heightens the miraculous outcome, emphasizing God’s providence through Moses’ decisive action.
Technique & Style
Executed in oil on canvas in 1596, the work exhibits the refined handling characteristic of Late Renaissance Mannerism. Figures are rendered with elongated proportions and pronounced musculature, reflecting Bloemaert’s engagement with Italian models. The composition balances densely packed groups with open sky, using a restrained palette of earth tones punctuated by cooler accents.
Brushwork remains fluid in passages such as drapery and flesh, while linear contours and attenuated limbs articulate the stylistic idiom. No surface evidence of major structural damage is recorded, though localized abrasion and minor discoloration are noted in high-wear areas.
History & Provenance
The painting Moses Striking the Rock was created by the Dutch artist Abraham Bloemaert in 1596, as indicated by the internal catalog and corroborated by Wikidata and Wikipedia entries. The work was commissioned or produced during Bloemaert’s late career, aligning with his mature Mannerist style. Originally, the painting was owned by Curt Glaser, a noted German art historian and collector, before entering the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it remains housed.
The provenance reflects a transfer from private ownership to a major institutional collection in the early 20th century.
Abraham Bloemaert's 1596 oil painting, Moses Striking the Rock, is held in the permanent collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. The work, executed on canvas, measures 79.7 cm in height and 108 cm in width. While the painting's current institutional home is the Met, historical records indicate it was previously owned by Curt Glaser.
The provided sources do not contain specific accession numbers or a detailed chronology of the work's exhibition history, limiting the available data to its current location and prior private ownership.
Context
Moses Striking the Rock (1596) is an oil-on-canvas painting by Abraham Bloemaert held in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, formerly in the collection of Curt Glaser. Scholarship identifies the work as a prime example of Late Renaissance Mannerism, noting its preternaturally muscled figures, noble bearing, and clear inspiration from contemporary Italian art. This places Bloemaert within the broader Northern adoption of Italian Mannerist trends and situates the painting within the religious genre of the late 16th century, illustrating how Dutch artists engaged with international stylistic developments while maintaining a distinct narrative focus.
Overview
Abraham Bloemaert's painting, Moses Striking the Rock, dates from the late 16th century. Executed in oil paint, this work illustrates a pivotal moment from the Old Testament. It depicts the prophet Moses providing water for the thirsty Israelites by striking the ground, a scene emphasizing divine intervention and leadership. The artwork is presently held within the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Abraham Bloemaert (25 December 1566 – 27 January 1651) was a Dutch painter and printmaker who used etching and engraving.
