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Follower of Filippino Lippi, 'Moses brings forth Water out of the Rock', about 1500

About the work

Overview

This painting is one of a pair that depicts episodes from the Book of Exodus, which describes how Moses rescued the Israelites from slavery in Egypt and accompanied them into the promised land of Canaan.

Moses brings forth Water out of the Rock is based on Exodus 17: 1–7. It shows the Israelites near Rephidim – their colourful tents are in the background to the left. Moses had led them out of slavery in Egypt, but their desperation grew as their water supply diminished. Two women on the left seem to be quarrelling, while two elderly men threaten Moses.

Tired of their complaints, Moses calls for God, who tells him to strike his rod against the rock at Horeb. Moses obeys, and water miraculously springs from the stone. In the right half of the picture, the Israelites drink from the gushing stream. More people approach from the background, carrying jugs to be filled for their onward journey to the Sinai desert.

Key facts

Details

Full title
Moses brings forth Water out of the Rock
Artist
Follower of Filippino Lippi
Artist dates
about 1457 - 1504
Part of the series
Two Scenes from the Story of Moses
Date made
about 1500
Medium and support
oil, originally on wood, transferred to canvas
Dimensions
78.1 × 137.8 cm
Acquisition credit
Bequeathed by Sir Henry Bernhard Samuelson, Bt, in memory of his father, 1937
Inventory number
NG4904
Location
Not on display
Collection
Main Collection

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.

Images

About the series: Two Scenes from the Story of Moses

Overview

Moses brings forth Water out of the Rock and The Worship of the Egyptian Bull God, Apis depict episodes from the life of Moses. They are based on the Book of Exodus, which describes how Moses rescued the Israelites from slavery in Egypt and accompanied them into the promised land of Canaan. The first picture shows water gushing from a rock that Moses has struck with his wooden staff; the second shows the Israelites worshipping the golden calf – possibly depicted in the guise of the Egyptian god Apis – in Moses' absence.

The two works were painted by a follower of Filippino Lippi, and their equal dimensions suggest that they belong together. Such horizontal paintings were known as spalliere, and were likely to have been inserted into furniture or wainscoting. They often have a moral message, as The Worship of the Egyptian Bull God, Apis does: on his return from Mount Sinai, Moses famously admonished the Israelites for worshipping a false idol.

Works in the series

Follower of Filippino Lippi
This painting is one of a pair that depicts episodes from the Book of Exodus, which describes how Moses rescued the Israelites from slavery in Egypt and accompanied them into the promised land of Canaan.Moses brings forth Water out of the Rock is based on Exodus 17: 1–7. It shows the Israelites n...
Not on display
Follower of Filippino Lippi
This painting is the second of a pair that depicts episodes from the Book of Exodus, which describes how Moses rescued the Israelites from slavery in Egypt and accompanied them into the promised land of Canaan.Moses had left the Israelites for 40 days and nights, climbing Mount Sinai to receive t...
Not on display