Moses as a child trampling the Pharaoh’s crown underfoot. Study for the same subject as recto 1652 - 1721

Editor: This is Bonaventura Lamberti’s pencil sketch, "Moses as a child trampling the Pharaoh’s crown underfoot," likely from sometime between 1652 and 1721. It’s so loose and gestural! What historical context illuminates this moment captured in the drawing? Curator: Seeing young Moses’s defiance isn't just about religious narrative; it's about power structures and resistance. Consider the European monarchies of Lamberti's time. Artists, even when depicting biblical scenes, were commenting on contemporary power dynamics. How does this image speak to themes of liberation and subversion in a time of powerful rulers? Editor: I guess I hadn't thought about it as resistance art. So you're saying this image of a child defying a Pharaoh could resonate with contemporary struggles against tyranny? Curator: Precisely. Lamberti may have used the past to critique his present. What might this image, even in its rough sketch form, suggest about the responsibilities of those who witness injustice? Or what did it mean to the people depicted? Editor: That's fascinating. It completely reframes my understanding. So, this isn't just a bible story; it’s a loaded political statement wrapped in Renaissance garb. Curator: Exactly. It prompts us to question how power operates and how resistance manifests, even from the most unexpected sources. Also to question whose narrative of these events survives. Editor: I’ll definitely look at history painting differently from now on. I'm so grateful to have heard your perspective. Curator: And I’m thankful to have been given the chance to see how an activist approach to historical art can resonate today.