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Nicolas Poussin, 'The Adoration of the Golden Calf', 1633-4

About the work

Overview

In this scene from the Book of Exodus, a large gathering of Israelites worship a life-size statue of a golden calf, or what is actually a bull, which represents the Egyptian bull-god Apis. They have decided to worship a different, pagan god while their leader Moses has been away on Mount Sinai collecting the stone tablets on which God has written the Ten Commandments, his laws on how to live properly.

Aaron, dressed in a white cloak, has melted down gold earrings to create the idol. In the top left corner, Moses returns with Joshua, and in his anger at seeing the calf smashes the tablets.

The worshippers dance energetically and we follow their pointed hands across the canvas, which helps to tell the story. One group points towards the altar, leading our eye across the foreground to the dancers and Moses on the left. Poussin’s interest in antique sculpture is conveyed by the muscular bodies, flowing drapery and frieze-like arrangement of the dancers.

Key facts

Details

Full title
The Adoration of the Golden Calf
Artist dates
1594 - 1665
Date made
1633-4
Medium and support
oil on canvas
Dimensions
153.4 × 211.8 cm
Acquisition credit
Bought with a contribution from the Art Fund, 1945
Inventory number
NG5597
Location
Room 29
Collection
Main Collection
Frame
18th-century French Frame

About this record

If you know more about this painting or have spotted an error, please contact us. Please note that exhibition histories are listed from 2009 onwards. Bibliographies may not be complete; more comprehensive information is available in the National Gallery Library.

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