Artwork preview

Moses Shown the Promised Land

Benjamin West

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

The painting depicts a man sitting on a rocky outcropping, with his right hand raised and his left hand extended toward a woman in a white dress. The man has a long beard and curly hair, and wears a brown robe. He sits with his legs bare and slightly bent. To the right, the woman in white has curly brown hair and large wings. She stands on clouds, with her left arm extended toward the man and her right arm extended behind her. Behind the woman, two children with wings are visible. In the top-left corner, another winged figure stands on clouds. Rays of light emanate from above, illuminating the scene. The background is filled with clouds and dark shadows. The color palette includes shades of brown, white, and blue-green. The overall mood appears to be one of divine revelation. The title of the work is "Moses Shown the Promised Land" and it is by Benjamin West.

Artwork Details

Date
1801
Medium
Oil on wood
Culture
American
Dimensions
600 × 400 px
Public Domain
Yes
Museum Record
View original
Palette