Description: One of two watercolors of biblical scenes inscribed at the bottom, "The Lord Appearing To Moses In The bush / Nancy Dickinson Sept 17th 1830" and framed in a gilt molded frame in which the glass appears to be old. Nancy Dickinson, the daughter of Elijah (1760-1817) and Nancy (1775-1867) Dickinson of Hatfield, married Joseph Dickinson Billings in 1841. These two paintings reflect the enduring popularity of bible stories as a source of imagery for art by young adults. Nancy probably copied these images from a print source, and both scenes are associated with stories of flight to safety. In “Moses in the Bush,” she depicted Moses next to five sheep from Jethro’s flock, barefoot at God’s command and kneeling before a burning bush withe flames dancing above the outstretched green branches that is nonetheless miraculous spared. As described in this Old Testament narrative (Exodus 3:1-21), she included an image of a winged angel of Yahweh, hovering over the bush, delivering God’s command that Moses lead the Israelites out of Egypt and into Canaan.
Link to share this object record: https://museums.fivecolleges.edu/detail.php?t=objects&type=ext&id_number=HD+2002.75.3 |