Fall of Manna c. 18th century

Curator: This is Benedetto Eredi's "Fall of Manna," a piece that makes me think about the socio-political context around religious imagery. Editor: My eye is drawn to the earthiness of it—the weight of those clay vessels and the tangible desperation for sustenance. You can almost feel the grit! Curator: Well, consider how such depictions reinforced the church's power. The miracle of manna, divinely provided, mirrored the church's role as a distributor of resources. Editor: Absolutely. And Eredi’s choice to emphasize the labor—look at the man straining under the weight of the jar. It speaks volumes about the work involved in sustaining a community. Curator: The composition, with Moses gesturing authoritatively, is strategically designed to legitimize religious authority in the eyes of the viewer, don't you think? Editor: Yes, but it's the materiality that truly resonates. The stark contrast between the figures reaching towards the heavens and those struggling on the ground is striking. Curator: Looking at "Fall of Manna" in this light, it underlines the complex interplay between religious narratives and the social realities of the time. Editor: It makes me think about our own relationship to consumption and scarcity. A surprisingly modern piece when you dig into it.