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RICHARD L. MINNS
 artist                                                                                                                                                                                                 return
Moses Betrayed 1
Life-Size
Bronze, 157 high x 79 x 63 cm (base 64 x 54 cm), 2003
62 high x 31 x 21 inches (base 25 x 21 inches)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Biblical Scripture:
 “When the Lord finished speaking to Moses on Mount Sinai, he gave Moses the two tablets of the Testimony, the tablets of stone inscribed by the finger of God … Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘ Go down because your people, whom you brought out of Egypt, have become corrupt. They have been quick to turn away from what I commanded them and have made themselves an idol cast in the shape of a calf … When Moses approached the camp and saw the golden calf and the dancing, his anger burned and he threw the tablets out of his hands, breaking them to pieces at the foot of the mountain.”

EXODUS 30:18 – 32.19

Description of Sculpture:
 The MOSES most often depicted by artists and sculptors is the radiant MOSES on Mount Sinai, holding the two Commandment Tablets over his head in triumph. However, as you know, MOSES triumph was short-lived and quickly turned to despair when he discovered in horror that he and God had been betrayed by the Israelites. Richard's MOSES is the picture of pathos, emotion, action and movement: A great man, crushed and angered, caught in the moment of his betrayal.

Artist's Interpretation:
 “My MOSES is the result of a labour of love. My father's most prized possession was a statue of MOSES. My oldest son, Michael, also loves MOSES. On one occasion when Michael was visiting me in Israel, we stopped by a gallery in Jerusalem and Michael started to purchase a bronze sculpture of MOSES. I stopped him and told him that I would create a MOSES never before attempted, in memory of my father and as a gift for my son. Michael asked me when that would happen and I replied: “When I have the skill”. Four years later, I created MOSES BETRAYED.

“I must give you some background, which you already know, so I can properly convey my passion. My MOSES has spent 40 days and 40 nights on Mount Sinai. His people did not believe any man could survive this long on Mount Sinai, alone in the wilderness under the scorching sun without food or water, so they were sure that MOSES had perished. They lost their faith, which was largely based on their reliance on MOSES strength and indomitable will, which enabled him to deliver them from Egyptian slavery across the Red Sea to freedom. With their belief that MOSES had perished, they lost faith in MOSES and in G-d, reverted to their pagan ways, and started worshipping the golden calf idol.

“MOSES did survive and when he arrived, barefoot, with his clothes in shreds, half-starved, but exhilarated, with the two Commandment Tablets from G-d, he was horrified at the above sight. He was betrayed. G-d was betrayed. The once-coveted Tablets become burning red-hot coals in his hands. He can't bear to hold them any longer. Tired, but overwhelmed with the shock of betrayal, my outraged MOSES is throwing the Commandment Tablets to the ground. His right arm has swung down. The tablet has left his outstretched hand, and I have tried to convey the impression that the tablet is in the air, falling. MOSES left arm is raised over his head preparing to hurl down the second tablet.

“Anatomically, my MOSES is old, very lean, starved, with ribs protruding, but still a very strong man with old but firm muscles and tendons attesting to his work as a shepherd. I have over-emphasised the veins on his arms and hands to combine strength and strain with pathos. I have tried to capture the mixture of sadness, shock, despair and rage in his weather-beaten face and eyes.”

MOSES face, eyes and hands dominated my dreams. I could think of little else until I completed the sculpture.”

Richard Minns
                               artist                                  return

                                   E-mail: info@hayhillgallery.com