The Israelites Gathering Manna

Art Historical Context

In the heart of the Renaissance Venetian artist Battista Franco captured pivotal biblical moment in * Israelites Gathering Manna*ca. 1547 This etching and engraving depicts Israelites in the wilderness, the miraculous manna from heaven as described in Exodus . Amidst tents, camels, men, and women, Franco illustrates divine provision during their exodus from Egypt, blending spiritual narrative with vivid daily life. Created during a time when printmaking revolutionized art dissemination, this work reflects Franco's Mannerist style—influenced by masters like—marked by dynamic compositions and expressive figures. As a second state of two, the print shows refinements to the plate, enhancing line quality and tonal depth through combined etching (for fluid lines) and engraving (for precise detail). Measuring 15¼ × 23⅞ inches, its large scale allowed for intricate storytelling, making complex theology accessible to wider audiences via affordable reproductions. Franco, a pioneering Venetian engraver, bridged painting and print, elevating the medium's status. Today, housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department (Harris Brisbane Dick Fund, 1947), this piece invites reflection on faith, survival, and artistic innovation, reminding us how 16th-century prints brought sacred stories into everyday homes.

About the Artist

Battista Franco · 1510–1561

Battista Franco, known as il Semolei, was born in Venice around 1510, though his career unfolded largely in Rome and at the courts of central and northern Italy. He came to Rome in his twenties and immediately fell under two powerful spells: the inexhaustible riches of classical antiquity and the overwhelming presence of Michelangelo. Franco spent years making drawings after ancient sculptures and...