The Finding of Moses 1666 - 1676

Montalto created this drawing of The Finding of Moses using pen and brown wash, heightened with white gouache, over black chalk on grey paper. This artwork, likely made in Italy in the 17th century, depicts a well-known biblical scene. The subject is the moment when the Egyptian Pharaoh’s daughter discovers the infant Moses in a basket on the River Nile. The story is loaded with social and political implications, showing the future leader of the Israelites being saved from infanticide by a member of the oppressor class. Montalto uses the visual codes of the time to emphasize the characters’ status and emotions. The Pharaoh’s daughter is rendered with a classical composure and elegant robes. The supporting figures react to her with appropriately deferential gestures. The image itself, then, becomes a meditation on power, compassion, and the overturning of social hierarchies. To gain a deeper understanding of this work, we can consult historical texts, religious commentaries, and studies of artistic patronage in 17th-century Italy. These resources help us understand how the artist and his audience might have interpreted the story of Moses in their own time.