Circle of Baldassare Peruzzi
(Ancaiano 1481–1536 Rome)
Moses Striking Water from the Rock, ca. 1520–40
Pen and brown ink, brown wash, heightened with white gouache, on brown washed paper
10 1/4 x 15 11/16 inches (261 x 398 mm)
Purchased by Pierpont Morgan, 1910
IV, 19
Item description:
Traditionally given to Raphael's follower Polidoro da Caravaggio, whose influence it reflects, this drawing has also been attributed to Peruzzi, or an artist of their entourage. The shallowness of the scene emulates ancient Roman relief sculpture, in particular as reinterpreted in the Vatican Loggie basamento scenes executed by Raphael's workshop in monochrome gold.
A print after this drawing by the Roman engraver Michele Lucchese (active mid-1530s to mid-1560s), as well as a majolica plate (now in the Art Institute of Chicago) from Urbino of ca. 1545 depicting the same scene, attest to the popularity of this composition.