Moses and Aaron before Pharaoh, with the Rods Turned into Serpents
1806
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1806
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Moses and Aaron before Pharaoh, with the Rods Turned into Serpents is a 1806 ink by Luigi Ademollo, a Romanticism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This drawing shows a group of men in flowing robes, standing in a tense scene. One man lies on the ground, while others point at two twisted snakes on the floor. The background has rough trees and a dim sky, and the whole scene feels dramatic. The snakes might hint at a story about power or punishment—this was a common theme in religious art. The artist used ink and white paint to make the figures stand out against the dark background. Look up gouache to see how this mix of paint and water works.
