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Brazen Serpent

Drawing
17th century (made)
Artist/Maker
Testa, Pietro (artist)
Place of origin
Italy (drawn)

Brazen Serpent; Moses is pointing with his wand to a serpent wreathed on the cross, while people are assembled around; Pen and Indian ink, very slight.

Object details

Category
Drawings
Object type
Drawing
TitleBrazen Serpent
Materials and techniques
Pen and Indian ink, very slight
Pen
Indian Ink
Drawing
Brief description
Testa, Pietro (ascribed to); Brazen Serpent; Moses is pointing with his wand to a serpent wreathed on the cross, while people are assembled around; Pen and Indian ink, very slight; 17th century.
Physical description
Brazen Serpent; Moses is pointing with his wand to a serpent wreathed on the cross, while people are assembled around; Pen and Indian ink, very slight.
Dimensions
  • Height: 10in
  • Width: 12.2in
Original measurements converted from fractional inches into decimal inches (rounded to one decimal place). Dimensions taken from: DYCE COLLECTION. A Catalogue of the Paintings, Miniatures, Drawings, Engravings, Rings and Miscellaneous Objects Bequeathed by The Reverend Alexander Dyce. London : South Kensington Museum, 1874.
Credit line
Bequeathed by Rev. Alexander Dyce
Subjects depicted
Cross
Serpent
People
Wands
Moses
Bibliographic references
  • DYCE COLLECTION. A Catalogue of the Paintings, Miniatures, Drawings, Engravings, Rings and Miscellaneous Objects Bequeathed by The Reverend Alexander Dyce. London : South Kensington Museum, 1874.
  • Ward-Jackson, Peter, Italian Drawings. Volume II. 17th-18th century, London, 1979, p. 97 The following is the full text of the entry. NAPLES: late 17th century 845 The Israelites attacked by fiery serpents (Numbers 21: 6-9) Inscribed in ink in an old hand ‘P.Testa’ Pen and ink over traces of black chalk 10 x 12 ¼ (254 x 311) Dyce 211 PROVENANCE Dyce Bequest 1869 LITERATURE Dyce Catalogue no. 211 (as ‘anonymous, ascribed to Pietro Testa’) The old attribution to Testa, maintained till lately in the Print Room, is not convincing. Giordano is sometimes proposed instead, but he does not fit exactly, either, though the drawing may well be by another Neapolitan in the same circle.
Collection
Prints, Drawings & Paintings Collection
Accession number
DYCE.211

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Record createdSeptember 11, 2009
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1136951/brazen-serpent-drawing-testa-pietro/
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