The Finding of Moses

Art Historical Context

This delicate drawing by Anton Kern captures the biblical moment from the Book of Exodus when Pharaoh’s daughter discovers the infant Moses floating in a basket among the reeds of the Nile. Created between 1725 and 1747, the scene reflects the enduring popularity of Old Testament stories in art during the early eighteenth century, when such narratives often served as moral lessons about divine providence and compassion. Kern, an artist active in Central Europe, worked in a fluid, expressive style typical of the late Baroque period. Here he employs black chalk and brush with gray ink to create...