The Erection of the Brazen Serpent

The "Erection of the Brazen Serpent" is a painting by the Italian Renaissance artist Tintoretto. Created around 1575, it is part of a larger decorative scheme for the Scuola Grande di San Rocco. The painting depicts a scene from the Old Testament where Moses, guided by God, erects a bronze serpent on a pole to heal the Israelites who were suffering from snakebites. This event is a prefiguration of Christ's crucifixion. Tintoretto's work is known for its dramatic use of light and space, often creating a luminous and visionary quality. He was a prominent painter of the Venetian school and a significant figure in Mannerist art.1