Maerten de Vos: Moses and the Ten Commandments (1574-1575)

(Museum Catharijneconvent, Utrecht, The Netherlands)

This large painting is actually a group-portrait of the wealthy families Panhuys and Hooftman from Antwerp. In the middle sits Moses who has the Ten Commandments with him. The members of the two families are grouped around Moses and represent the people of Israel. On some of their clothing you can read the name of that person. The things before Moses are the gifts from the people of Israel to him. The text around the painting is a quote from Exodus 34-35:

"ALS MOYSI DEN TWEEDEMAAL DIE TAFELEN DES WEETS VAN DEN HEERE OP DEN BERCH SYNAI ONTFANGEN / HADDE IS NEDER GHECOMEN EN HEEFT GHEHEEL ISRAEL VERGAEDERT / ENDE HEEFT HAER DIE GHEBODEN DES HEEREN VOER GHEHOVDEN OP DAT SY MAKEN SOVDEN ALLEN SIERATEN / DES TABERNAKELS DIE DE HEERE BEVOLEN HADDE MOYSI TE DOENE.EXODVS.34.35"

Painting from 1574-1575.