Analysis 2
Mandee Soliman
Analysis 2
Poussin was an artist in the 18th century who was influenced early on by Titian.¹ Titian is also known to have painted and inspired by bacchanalian strand of classical myth and had a series of paintings that demonstrated or showed his inspiration.² This was the reason Poussin’s paintings were on historical scenes which included biblical scenes as well. Therefore, It has been observed that “Poussin spent virtually all of his working in Rome, where he specialized in history paintings depicting scenes from the Bible, ancient history, and mythology that are notable for their narrative clarity and dramatic force”.³ These type of paintings were the heart of Poussin art. Poussin’s religious beliefs were and still remain primarily unknown although it is known that “he certainly did not endorse the ecstatic Catholicism of Counter-Reformation Rome” .4 This confirms that though he had many Biblical paintings, it might not of have been because of his religious beliefs. Poussin’s paintings were solly based on his influence and inspiration.
The artist Nicolas Poussin, painted “Moses Being Placed in the Waters" in 1654. This painting depicts the scene of Moses’ family at the time of his departure. This painting demonstrates the possible emotions to different members of Moses’ family at the time. It also depicts Miriam's role in the scene based on the Biblical text.
The painting, “Moses Being Placed in the Waters", includes different aspects of the interpretation of the story of Miriam and her family saving Moses as an infant. The painting’s main focus is this scene from the story of Miriam in the Biblical text. The artist displayed separate pieces of each individual’s role in this story. The artist showed the mother with a concerned faced over her child as they were about to depart each other for a hope of his survival. Though, in the Biblical text, there is no mention of the mother’s emotion at the scene; the author gave a fare visual demonstration of what the mother’s emotion could have been as a mother. The father and Aaron also had concerning and sad facial expressions in the painting because of the unfortunate departure of Moses. This as well was not included in the biblical text of the story of Miriam. Moses points to Miriam, because she has found a hopeful solution, to try to help ease the pain of his mother, father and brother. Meanwhile, Miriam points to the Pharaoh's home presenting a solution to their situation. This shows that she was also concerned over her brother, Moses’, situation. The interpretation on this image reflects upon the verses of the Book of Exodus in the Biblical Text. This image shows that Moses’ family were worried about him and valued him as well. Therefore, they worked together to save him as a child.
Notes:
1. Rachel Spence, "Lord of the Landscape Nicolas Poussin could 'Put Reason in the Grass and Tears in the Sky'. but it was Not always so. Rachel Spence Reports." Financial Times, Mar 01, 2008.
http://search.proquest.com/docview/250083415?accountid=26879.
2. Rachel Spence, "Lord of the Landscape Nicolas Poussin…”, (2008).
3.Encyclopædia Britannica Online, s. v. "Nicolas Poussin", Accessed December 10, 2015,
http://www.britannica.com/biography/Nicolas-Poussin.
4.Encyclopædia Britannica Online, s. v. "Nicolas Poussin", (2015).
