Search
Enter a search term.

Search

Take a look through our extensive collection of nearly 2,000 works of art. From historical, religious art to dynamic, contemporary art, you’re bound to discover something new.
Get started

Artistic Splendor: Significant Works from the Thrivent Art Collection,

New exhibition coming soon
Learn more

Rising

Sculpture by late renowned artist Richard Hunt featured outside Thrivent's downtown Minneapolis office.
Learn more
Use the search bar above to find information throughout our website. Or choose a topic you want to learn more about.

Pellegrino Tibaldi
Italian, 1527-1596
or Giulio Clovio
Croatian, 1498-1578

Moses and the Miracle of the Serpent, c. 1540-90
Pen, brown ink and brown wash

In the book of Exodus, God offers Moses and his brother Aaron the mighty ability to reflect God’s divine power. When Pharaoh demands they perform a wonder as a test, Aaron throws down his staff which miraculously turns into a serpent, which subsequently swallows other serpents that Pharaoh’s magicians had conjured.

This drawing is a visual and art historical puzzle. Moses and Aaron are missing from the composition, indicating that a portion of this drawing was trimmed at some point. Additionally, the grouping of figures on the left has been pasted onto the sheet. This early form of collage was likely done by the artist as an exercise in comparing their style to an earlier master. Like many Old Master drawings, this work’s attribution is not definitive. Scholars have debated the likelihood of two artists: Pellegrino Tibaldi (1527-1596) and Giulio Clovio (1498-1578), both of whom were deeply influenced by Michelangelo Buonarroti (1475-1564). Regardless of its attribution, this marvelous Italian Mannerist drawing remains fascinating.