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Niccolò Pisano, 'The Israelites gathering Manna', probably 1500-3

About the work

According to the Book of Exodus, the Israelites, having escaped slavery in Egypt, feared famine as they wandered the desert. They complained to Moses, so God sent down a heavenly food, manna, which fell from the sky each morning but melted in the sun. Here, they gather the manna up into pots, jars, bowls and even pinafores.

This painting on linen canvas – a rare survival from the Renaissance – was probably originally in a small chapel or oratory in Ferrara, or possibly in the house of one of the Jewish community there. It is one of a group of eight similar paintings showing subjects from Genesis and Exodus, two of which are in the National Gallery’s collection.

Given the fragility of painting on linen, both this and The Dance of Miriam are in reasonable condition, although they were probably originally brighter: both are covered with surface dirt and some of the pigments have deteriorated. A distinctive feature of both is the copious amount of finely applied gilding, which would have shone by candle light.

Key facts

Full title
The Israelites gathering Manna
Artist
Niccolò Pisano
Artist dates
1470 - about 1536
Part of the series
Two Scenes from the Story of Moses
Date made
probably 1500-3
Medium and support
glue tempera on canvas
Dimensions
119.3 × 78.7 cm
Acquisition credit
Layard Bequest, 1916
Inventory number
NG3103
Location
Not on display
Collection
Main Collection
Previous owners

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.

About the series: Two Scenes from the Story of Moses

Niccolò Pisano, 'The Israelites gathering Manna', probably 1500-3

These two Old Testament scenes are painted not on panel, as are most surviving Italian Renaissance paintings, but on linen. They are part of a series of eight paintings on linen canvasses by various artists, which survive in various collections.

Although now rare, paintings on linen were widespread in the Renaissance. They could serve as hangings, curtains, altar frontals and banners, as well as framed works of art; they were much cheaper than tapestries, faster to execute than frescoes and easier to transport than panel paintings.

These pictures probably came from a small chapel or oratory in Ferrara. Alternatively, they might have been from the home of a member of Ferrara’s Jewish community.

The Israelites gathering Manna
The Israelites gathering Manna
Niccolò Pisano
According to the Book of Exodus, the Israelites, having escaped slavery in Egypt, feared famine as they wandered the desert. They complained to Moses, so God sent down a heavenly food, manna, which fell from the sky each morning but melted in the sun. Here, they gather the manna up into pots, jar...
Not on display
The Dance of Miriam
The Dance of Miriam
Niccolò Pisano
In this rare survival – a Renaissance painting done on linen canvas – the Israelites, having escaped slavery in Egypt, are led through the wilderness by Moses and Aaron. The fleeing families, encumbered by bundles, dogs and even a monkey, make their way down a winding road. In the centre, a group...
Not on display