Moses

Physical description

Plaster Cast of Moses after the original marble statue in the tomb of Pope Julius II (Pope 1503; d. 1513) in the church of S. Pietro in Vincoli, Rome.

Place of Origin

Florence, Italy (sculpted)
Paris, France (cast)

Date

1513-1542 (sculpted)
ca. 1858 (cast)

Artist/maker

Michelangelo, born 1475 - died 1564 (after, sculptor)
Desachy (Monsieur) (maker)

Materials and Techniques

Plaster cast

Dimensions

Height: 236.5 cm, Width: 109.5 cm

Object history note

Purchased from Desachy in 1858 for £45

Historical context note

This figure was executed for the second project (1513) for Pope Julius' tomb, and was planned for the second zone, above the right niche of the front. This project was not realised, and the Moses was not completed until 1542. Michelangelo chose the present position for the Moses during the final project of 1542-45. As it was designed for a higher viewpoint, the statue's proportions seem awkward when seen in its present low location in the church.

Descriptive line

Plaster Cast of Moses after the original marble statue in the tomb of Pope Julius II in the church of S. Pietro in Vincoli, Rome; Michelangelo, 1513-42, cast by Desachy, ca. 1858

Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)

Trusted, Marjorie, ed. The Making of Sculpture. The Materials and Techniques of European Sculpture. London: 2007, p. 166-167, pl. 315

Subjects depicted

Moses

Categories

Sculpture; Judaism

Collection code

SCP