Where can I see Liber Veritatis: No. 47, A River Scene with the Finding of Moses?

Liber Veritatis: No. 47, A River Scene with the Finding of Moses is held by Cleveland Museum of Art.

What movement is Liber Veritatis: No. 47, A River Scene with the Finding of Moses?

Liber Veritatis: No. 47, A River Scene with the Finding of Moses is associated with Romanticism.

Can I buy a print of Liber Veritatis: No. 47, A River Scene with the Finding of Moses?

Museum-quality prints of Liber Veritatis: No. 47, A River Scene with the Finding of Moses are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Liber Veritatis: No. 47, A River Scene with the Finding of Moses

Richard Earlom , 1774

Liber Veritatis: No. 47, A River Scene with the Finding of Moses is a print by the Romanticist artist Richard Earlom. It dates from 1774 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

Accession no.: 1930.564
Credit line: Charles W. Harkness Endowment Fund

About this work

Overview

The composition extends into the middle distance where a bridge spans the water, leading the eye toward a shoreline lined with palm trees.

Created in 1774 by Richard Earlom, this etching and mezzotint is plate number 47 from the artist's series 'Liber Veritatis,' which reproduces the landscape drawings of Claude Lorrain held in the British Museum. The work depicts a pastoral riverside scene centered on the biblical Finding of Moses. In the foreground, figures are scattered across a rocky bank under the shade of trees; a woman in a long dress stands near a tall tower, while others rest on the ground.

A shepherd sleeps beside a sheep, accompanied by a dog, establishing a tranquil, everyday atmosphere. The composition extends into the middle distance where a bridge spans the water, leading the eye toward a shoreline lined with palm trees. Earlom executed this print as part of a monumental project to disseminate Claude's drawings through high-quality reproductive prints, ensuring their accessibility to a wider public.

The piece exemplifies Earlom's technical mastery in translating the tonal qualities of Claude's drawings into the mezzotint medium, capturing the atmospheric light and detailed landscape architecture characteristic of the French master's idealized Italianate vision.

Subject & Meaning

Although the title references the biblical episode of the finding of Moses, the scene conveys a peaceful, everyday moment rather than a dramatic narrative. Figures are shown in repose, some seated on rocks, a woman in a long dress near a tower, a man sleeping beside a sheep, suggesting a contemplative interpretation of the story’s setting.

Technique & Style

Earlom employs chiaroscuro, using strong contrasts of light and dark to model forms and suggest depth. The shading creates a sense of three‑dimensional space, with darker foreground elements receding toward lighter, more atmospheric background features such as the distant bridge and palm‑lined shore.

History & Provenance

Created in 1774, the print was produced as part of Earlom’s series documenting earlier works. It eventually entered the holdings of the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it remains on view as an example of late‑18th‑century British printmaking.

Context

The Liber Veritatis series was intended to record and disseminate images of notable compositions, often serving as a visual archive for artists and patrons. Earlom’s contribution reflects the period’s interest in classical and biblical subjects rendered in a calm, genre‑like manner.