The Israelites Gathering Manna
ca. 1547
Medium
Etching and engraving, second state of two
Dimensions
Sheet (Trimmed): 15 1/4 × 23 7/8 in. (38.7 × 60.7 cm)
Classification
Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Harris Brisbane Dick Fund, 1947
Accession Number
47.100.1196
Tags
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 ex...
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...