The Return of the Spies from the Promised Land c. 1666

"The Return of the Spies from the Promised Land" is a drawing by the Italian Baroque artist Pier Francesco Mola, created around 1666. The drawing, executed in brown ink on paper, depicts a group of figures returning from the Promised Land. The scene is dominated by a figure carrying a large bunch of grapes, symbolic of the land's abundance. Other figures in the background, some gesturing dramatically, observe the return. Mola's sketch, with its fluid lines and expressive figures, exemplifies his signature style, characterized by a sense of movement and drama.