"Moses"

Michelangelo’s statue of Moses was created sometime between 1513 and 1515 and was originally intended to be a component of Pope Julius II’s tomb. The Moses statue is positioned in the stance of a prophet, sitting on a marble chair situated between two adorned marble pillars. Moses by Michelangelo, designed for the second level of the tomb, was intended to be viewed from below rather than at eye level as it is now. It was originally meant to be one of six large sculptures by Michelangelo that were to adorn the tomb.

Inspired by a reference in chapter 34 of Exodus, the Moses statue shows the historical person with horns on his head. This is said to be due to St Jerome’s incorrect interpretation of the Hebrew Scriptures into Latin.

Moses is really depicted as having “beams of skin on his face,” which Jerome rendered as “horns” in the Latin version.

Crafted in marble, Moses is seated in a solemn posture, he lays one arm on the slate and the other on his long, lustrous beard, the strands of which are so silky and feathery that it appears as if the metal chisel has turned into a brush.

The Michelangelo statue of Moses is shown as sitting; his torso facing forward, his head with its magnificent hair faces to the left, his right foot lies on the earth, and his left leg is lifted so that only the feet touch the earth. His right arm is linked to the Tablets of the Word by something that resembles a textbook in his hand, which he holds with a part of his beard; his left arm is in his lap. His right-hand guards the clay tablets containing the Ten Commandments, but his left hand, arteries pulsating and muscles strained, looks to be backing down from the violent deed. When Moses returned from Mount Sinai, he saw his people worshiping the Golden Calf, the deceptive idol they had created.