Youth of Moses

The Trials of Moses
Artist	Sandro Botticelli and assistants
Year	1481–1482
Type	Fresco
Dimensions	348.5 cm × 558 cm (137.2 in × 220 in)
Location	Sistine Chapel, Rome

TheYouth of MosesorThe Trials of Mosesis afrescoby the Italian Renaissance painterSandro Botticelliand his workshop, executed in 1481–1482 in theSistine Chapel,Rome (modern-day Italy).

History

Detail of one of the women at the pit, perhaps a portrait ofSimonetta Vespucci

On 27 October 1480, Botticelli, together with other Florentine painters, left for Rome where he had been called as part of the reconciliation project betweenLorenzo de' Medici,thede factoruler ofFlorence,andPope Sixtus IV.The Florentines started to work in theSistine Chapelas early as the Spring of 1481, along withPietro Perugino,who was already there.

The theme of the decoration was a parallel between the Stories of Moses and those of Christ, as a sign of continuity between theOldand theNew Testament– a continuity also between the divine law of the Tables and the message of Jesus, who, in turn, chose Peter (the first alleged bishop of Rome) as his successor: this would finally result in a legitimation of the latter's successors, the popes of Rome.

Botticelli, helped by numerous assistants, painted three scenes. On 17 February 1482 his contract was renovated, including the other scenes to complete the chapel's decoration. However, on 20 February his father died: he returned to Florence, where he remained.

Description

Detail of Moses removing his shoes

The fresco shows several episodes of Moses' youth, taken fromExodus.It parallels the fresco on the opposite wall, also by Botticelli, which depictsthe Temptations of Jesus.The frieze has the inscriptionTEMPTATIO MOISI LEGIS SCRIPTAE LATORIS.

On the right is Moses killing the Egyptian who had harassed a Hebrew, and fleeing to the desert (a parallel with the episode of Jesus defeating the Devil). In the next episode Moses fights the shepherds who were preventingJethro's daughters (including his future wife,Zipporah) to water their cattle at the pit, and then takes the water for them. In the third scene, in the upper left corner, Moses removes his shoes and then receives from God the task to return to Egypt and free his people. Finally, in the lower left corner, he drives the Jews to thePromised Land.

Moses is always distinguishable in the scenes by his yellow dress and the green cloak.

See also

• List of works by Sandro Botticelli

Sources

• Santi, Bruno (2001). "Botticelli".I protagonisti dell'arte italiana.Florence: Scala.

External links

Media related toTrials and Calling of Mosesat Wikimedia Commons