The Israelites Gathering Manna 1542 - 1552

"The Israelites Gathering Manna" (1542-1552) is a detailed black and white drawing by the Italian Renaissance artist Battista Franco. The scene, depicting a biblical story, shows a gathering of Israelites collecting manna from the sky as instructed by God. Franco’s composition is rich with figures in a landscape setting, showing the artist's masterful command of drawing and storytelling within a single frame. The artwork, housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, provides a glimpse into the artistic practices of the 16th century and the enduring power of biblical narratives in visual art.