Moïse, d’après Michel-Ange 

Charles-Joseph Natoire created this chalk drawing, "Moïse, d’après Michel-Ange," sometime during his career, capturing his interpretation of Michelangelo’s iconic sculpture. Natoire was a figure within the French Rococo movement, a period defined by its ornate detail, and it's interesting to see how he engages with such a monumental figure as Moses. The drawing allows us to consider the power and authority associated with Moses, a central figure in religious history, through the lens of 18th-century French art. Natoire softens Michelangelo’s intensely powerful and angry Moses. Here, Moses seems thoughtful, perhaps troubled. The red chalk lends a warmth to the figure, humanizing him and inviting a different kind of engagement than Michelangelo’s marble sculpture. We might reflect on how different artistic mediums and styles shape our perceptions and emotional responses to historical and religious figures. Natoire’s Moses invites contemplation on leadership, faith, and the burdens of responsibility, all mediated through the aesthetic sensibilities of his time.