“The Brazen Serpent” is an oil on canvas religious painting created by the renowned artist Tintoretto between the years 1575 and 1576. Belonging to the Mannerism or Late Renaissance movement, this grand artwork measures a substantial 840 by 520 centimeters.
The artwork vividly depicts a dramatic biblical scene featuring the brazen serpent as described in the Book of Numbers. The composition is striking and dynamic, brimming with expressive figures in varying emotional states, encapsulating the tension and despair among the afflicted. At the heart of the tumult, a raised serpent on a pole commands attention, surrounded by figures writhing in agony and seeking divine intervention. Above, angelic beings and deities hover amidst tumultuous clouds, adding a celestial dimension to the terrestrial chaos below. The masterful use of lighting and shadow, combined with the intense physicality of the figures, showcases Tintoretto’s skill in conveying both earthly suffering and heavenly drama.
