Moses and Other Figures 1570 - 1580

Cesare Nebbia’s drawing, made with pen and brown ink, depicts Moses and other figures, capturing a profound moment of spiritual leadership. The most striking feature is undoubtedly the pair of horns sprouting from Moses' head. This iconography stems from a mistranslation of the Hebrew word for "radiance," reinterpreted as "horns," by Saint Jerome in the Vulgate Bible. It's a symbol that has carried through art history, appearing in various forms across different media, always signifying divine authority. Consider Michelangelo's Moses, where the horns project power, or medieval illuminated manuscripts, where they mark Moses as a prophet touched by God. The symbol evolved, sometimes subtly, but always present. What began as a visual misinterpretation became a potent symbol of divine insight, ingrained in the collective consciousness, illustrating how cultural memory shapes our understanding of art, and continues to resonate on a subconscious level, triggering feelings of awe and reverence.