The artwork titled “Mozes and the brass snake,” created by Anthony van Dyck between 1618 and 1620, is an exemplary oil on canvas painting from the Baroque period. Measuring 205 x 235 cm, this religious painting is housed at the Museo del Prado in Madrid, Spain. It encapsulates the dynamism, drama, and rich use of color that characterize the Baroque movement.
The artwork presents a scene from the Biblical narrative, rich with emotional intensity and dynamic motion, which is emblematic of Baroque art. The central figures are set against a tumultuous sky, where dark clouds are giving way to a brighter horizon, perhaps symbolic of divine intervention and hope. Amongst the gathering of people, the figure of Moses stands commandingly with his back to the viewer, pointing towards the brass snake; it is the focal point towards which all gazes and gestures are directed. The composition conveys a sense of desperation and urgent faith as the onlookers appear to be pleading for relief or deliverance, likely from the plagues or serpent’s venom described in the Biblical text.
The color palette is robust with contrasting hues, where the rich reds, deep blues, and earthy tones of the figures’ garments stand out against the lighter backdrop of the sky. The play of light accentuates the physical and emotional expressions of the individuals—anguish, pain, and hope are captured vividly through their facial expressions and body language. The carving of the muscles, the tension in the arms reaching out, and the contorted postures of some figures demonstrate both the technical skill of the artist and his ability to depict the human form in extremis.
Van Dyck’s mastery in blending the naturalism of the human figure with the supernatural subject matter aligns seamlessly with the ideological objectives of the Baroque era, aiming to evoke an emotional response and convey the glory and power of divine presence through visual art.
