Moses receiving the Tablets of the Law from God who descends from the heavens; from the series of 112 prints of the sacred history, after the painting by Mattia Preti
Medium
Etching and engraving
Dimensions
Sheet (Trimmed): 19 3/4 in. × 14 in. (50.2 × 35.6 cm)
Classification
Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1962
Accession Number
62.602.827
Art Historical Context
This striking print captures a pivotal biblical moment: Moses receiving the Ten Commandments as God dramatically descends from the heavens. Created around 1730–39 by Pietro Monaco after an original painting by Mattia Preti (known as Il Cavalier Calabrese), it belongs to a large series of 112 etchings and engravings illustrating sacred history. Preti, a leading Baroque artist from Calabria, was renowned for his dynamic compositions and dramatic use of light, qualities that Monaco skillfully translated into print form. The technique of etching and engraving allowed for fine detail and rich tona...