Botticelli - Punishment of the Rebels, detail
Sandro Botticelli
Punishment of the Rebels (or of the sons of Korah) [1482]
Vatican, Sistine Chapel, South wall
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Description
The painting depicts three episodes and tells of a rebellion by the Israelites against Moses and Aaron.
On the right the rebels attempt to stone Moses after becoming disenchanted by their trials on their emigration from Egypt. Joshua has placed himself between the rebels and Moses, protecting him from the stoning.
The center scene shows the rebellion with Korah and the conspirators being driven out by Moses and Aaron, as high priest wearing the papal tiara.
To the left, the ground opens and the two principal conspirators sink into it. The children of Korah are spared the fate of their father.
The painting is framed by golden faux-architecture with an inscribed titulus above. The texts attached to the paintings of the Sistine Chapel inform the educated congregants in the papal chapel of the subject matter of the paintings; the tituli work to reveal both the identity of the figures, the content of the scenes with the Biblical narratives, and their exegesis.[1]
In the background of the painting is a Roman triumphal arch modelled closely on the Arch of Constantine, from the late antique period, which also included elements of earlier imperial monuments. The real Arch of Constantine's inscription is replaced by a cautionary inscription paraphrased from the Vulgate translation of Hebrews 5:4:[1]
nemo♦sibi♦assum
mat♦honorem♦nisi
vocatus♦adeo
tanquam♦aaron
(And no man taketh this honour [the priesthood] unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron. – kjv)
The intended message of the painting is clear, no one should doubt the authority of the Pope over the Church. The power of the papacy was constantly being questioned at the time.
*****************************************************************************
More on Korah and his family and tree:
www.gotquestions.org/sons-of-Korah.html
Botticelli - Punishment of the Rebels, detail
Sandro Botticelli
Punishment of the Rebels (or of the sons of Korah) [1482]
Vatican, Sistine Chapel, South wall
*******************************************************************
Description
The painting depicts three episodes and tells of a rebellion by the Israelites against Moses and Aaron.
On the right the rebels attempt to stone Moses after becoming disenchanted by their trials on their emigration from Egypt. Joshua has placed himself between the rebels and Moses, protecting him from the stoning.
The center scene shows the rebellion with Korah and the conspirators being driven out by Moses and Aaron, as high priest wearing the papal tiara.
To the left, the ground opens and the two principal conspirators sink into it. The children of Korah are spared the fate of their father.
The painting is framed by golden faux-architecture with an inscribed titulus above. The texts attached to the paintings of the Sistine Chapel inform the educated congregants in the papal chapel of the subject matter of the paintings; the tituli work to reveal both the identity of the figures, the content of the scenes with the Biblical narratives, and their exegesis.[1]
In the background of the painting is a Roman triumphal arch modelled closely on the Arch of Constantine, from the late antique period, which also included elements of earlier imperial monuments. The real Arch of Constantine's inscription is replaced by a cautionary inscription paraphrased from the Vulgate translation of Hebrews 5:4:[1]
nemo♦sibi♦assum
mat♦honorem♦nisi
vocatus♦adeo
tanquam♦aaron
(And no man taketh this honour [the priesthood] unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron. – kjv)
The intended message of the painting is clear, no one should doubt the authority of the Pope over the Church. The power of the papacy was constantly being questioned at the time.
*****************************************************************************
More on Korah and his family and tree:
www.gotquestions.org/sons-of-Korah.html