The Prophetess Deborah Ordering Barak to Take Arms against Sisera
1728–33
Medium
Brush and black ink, brush and gray wash, over black chalk (recto); small black chalk sketch of a nude male figure (verso)
Dimensions
14-15/16 x 11-15/16 in. (37.9 x 30.3 cm)
Classification
Drawings
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1963
Accession Number
63.98.1
Rights
Public Domain
Tags
Art Historical Context
Francesco Solimena, one of the leading painters of the Neapolitan Baroque, created this dynamic drawing between 1728 and 1733. The scene depicts the Old Testament prophetess Deborah commissioning the warrior Barak to lead the Israelites into battle against the Canaanite general Sisera. Solimena captures the dramatic moment of divine command, using sweeping gestures and expressive figures to convey authority and urgency. Executed in brush and black ink with gray wash over black chalk, the sheet reveals the artist’s working process. The fluid application of wash creates strong contrasts of light and shadow, a hallmark of Baroque draftsmanship that heightens the emotional intensity of the narrative. On the verso, a small nude male study suggests Solimena was simultaneously exploring the human form for related compositions. Acquired by the Metropolitan Museum of Art through the Rogers Fund in 1963, this drawing offers visitors an intimate glimpse into how Solimena prepared his grand history paintings. The presence of horses, soldiers, and attendant figures underscores the martial theme while demonstrating the artist’s skill at organizing complex multi-figure scenes within a compact format.
About the Artist
Francesco Solimena · 1657–1747
Comment on works: History; Religious