Moses and the Brazen Serpent

Boëtius Adams Bolswert, after Sir Peter Paul Rubens

National Gallery of Art

This is a drawing of a religious scene. The image depicts a group of individuals in a chaotic tangle of movement and emotion. In the foreground, several figures appear to be suffering, some laying on the ground while one figure attempts to cradle another. In the midst of the chaos, two central standing figures hold a staff with a serpent entwined around it, drawing attention toward the upper right of the image. The sky above is filled with serpents among turbulent clouds. The use of light and shadow creates depth and highlights the expressions of despair and hope among the individuals portrayed.