Edmonia LewisAmerican, 1844–1907Moses (after Michelangelo)
Can I see it?
Unknown
Where is “Moses (after Michelangelo)” now? Collection: Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, D.C. Unknown.
Washington, D.C., United States
The owner is known; whether it is on view today is not.
- In this state since
- Source
- The museum
About the sculpture
Edmonia Lewis developed her skills in Rome by copying classical sculptures. These copies would often be sold to American tourists, providing a much-needed source of income. The original sculpture of Moses by Michelangelo, completed around 1515, stands in the tomb of Pope Julius II in St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. To a black female sculptor, the opportunity to emulate such an exalted artist’s work must have meant a great deal. The figure of Moses himself may also have been an inspiration. By rescuing the Israelites from Egypt, Moses exemplified the desire for freedom felt by many blacks during the nineteenth century.
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Details
- Accession number
- 1984.149.1
What it shows
In the catalog
Sources
- Smithsonian American Art Museum
- Image: Smithsonian American Art Museum — CC0
![Gelek Rimpoche from Lhasa and Ann Arbor unwrapping Tibetan text & beginning to chant it, Tokden Rinpoche, handling brass Vajia (Diamond Lightning Bolt) and Ghanta (Bell) Sonam, former chanting. master of Gyuto Tantric College idling behind them at picnic table outside lodge shrine-room after lunch, "just fooling around rather than having a ceremony." Sonam came in from Chicago, Tokden from Eastern Tibet to give oral Transmissions of one-volume short-form _Prajnaparamita_ [Highest perfect wisdom] _Sutra_ to Gelek's hundred students. "Gate Gate Para Gate Parasamgate Bodhi Svaha!" Over annual summer retreat, Yankee Springs State Park, Michigan, August 27, 1993., Allen Ginsberg, 1993, printed 1995](https://api.nga.gov/iiif/b1ae88f0-bb0c-4b98-bd7f-3d50148b518e/full/!2400,2400/0/default.jpg)
