Moses Striking a Shepherd

Art Historical Context

Behold *Moses Striking a Shepherd*, a captivating 18th-century print published by Joseph Wagner after a design by the Venetian painter Jacopo Amigoni, circa 1745. This etching and engraving on laid paper, measuring 51.7 x 34 cm, captures a dramatic biblical moment from the Old Testament, where intervenes forcefully against injustice. Trimmed to its plate mark, the sheet preserves the intricate details of Wagner's skilled translation of Amigoni's original composition into print form. Amigoni, known for his elegant Rococo figures and theatrical narratives, infused such religious scenes with dynamic energy and emotional intensity, popular in Venice's vibrant art scene. Wagner, a prominent engraver and publisher in the same city, specialized in reproductive prints that made prestigious paintings accessible to a broader audience beyond elite collectors. The mixed technique—etching for fluid tonal effects and engraving for precise lines—creates a rich contrast of light and shadow, heightening the scene's tension and movement. Housed in the National Gallery of Art's Department of Prints (CG-E) through the Ailsa Mellon Bruce Fund, this work exemplifies the era's printmaking prowess, bridging painting and popular devotion while preserving Amigoni's vision for posterity. A testament to artistry's reach, it invites us to reflect on timeless themes of justice and divine calling.