Stories of Moses and the Evangelists

The Stories of Moses and the Evangelists are a series of oil on panel paintings by Domenico Beccafumi, dating to circa 1538-1539 and hanging in Pisa Cathedral. They form part of a decorative scheme of 27 panels, only completed at the end of the 17th century, also including works by Andrea del Sarto and Il Sodoma.

Stories of Moses and the Evangelists
Fire sent down from heaven
on Korach, Datan, and Aviram
ArtistDomenico Beccafumi
Year1538-1539
Mediumoil on panel
LocationPisa Cathedral

History

Intended for the ceiling of an apse, the two scenes of Moses were commissioned by Antonio Urbani, the Operaio della Primarizale (Vasari mistakenly states they were commissioned by his successor in that office, Sebastiano della Seta). Moses Smashing the Tablets of the Law was paid for on completion on 22 June 1538 and Fire Sent Down from Heaven paid for on completion on 29 February 1539 (1538 according to the Pisan calendar). The artist was paid 350 lira for each work.

Soon afterwards four paintings of the Evangelists were commissioned for the neighbouring niches - Saint John and Saint Luke were completed on 1 July 1539, then Saint Matthew and Saint Mark on 25 December 1539. The artist was paid 200 lira for each of the four paintings.


List of works

ImageSubjectDateMeasurementsNotes
Moses Smashing the Tablets of the Law1538197x139 cm
Fire sent down from heaven on Korach, Datan, and Aviram1539197x139 cmThe screaming bearded man on the left may be a self-portrait of the painter.
Saint John1539197x88 cm
Saint Luke1539197x88 cm
Saint Matthew1539197x88 cm
Saint Mark1539197x88 cm

Bibliography

  • (in Italian) Anna Maria Francini Ciaranfi, Beccafumi, Sadea Editore/Sansoni, Firenze 1967.
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