The Exposition of Moses

The Exposition of Moses from 1624 at Dresden is an early work showing Poussin beginning to develop his approach to Old Testament narrative. The scene of Moses set adrift on the Nile provided material for exploring themes of fate and divine protection. Poussin approached Old Testament subjects with rigorous compositional logic, researching costume, architecture, and landscape from scholarly sources. These biblical narratives were conceived as history paintings in the highest academic sense, in...

The composition arranges the riverside scene with developing classical clarity. Poussin's early palette and figure handling show his emerging mastery of narrative composition.