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Aaron Converting His Staff into a Serpent

Robert Walter Weir

1864

gouache

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Impressionism Realism Late 19th Century Allegory

Dominant colour

Aaron Converting His Staff into a Serpent is a 1864 gouache by Robert Walter Weir, a Impressionism work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: Robert Walter Weir
When & what style?: 1864 · Impressionism
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This sketch shows a robed figure standing sideways, one arm raised as if speaking or commanding. The other hand holds a staff that looks like it might turn into a snake. The clothing is loose and flowing, with quick, sketchy lines marking the folds. The background is almost blank, just a few faint outlines of what could be rocks or trees. The artist used light ink strokes and filled in some areas with a flat, matte color—this is called gouache. It’s less detailed than a finished painting, more like a quick study. Want to see more? Look up gouache to learn how artists use it.