Comments on: A David-like poise in Rome?

By: S Spector

S Spector — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 22:13:05 +0000

I’ve seen the statue a few times & one thing that I could never reconcile is how Michaelangelo, who did such a perfect job on the anatomy, would ever think a human had horns, so I would have to disregard that explaination. As to “rays of light”… they don’t look like rays either. (They do in fact, to me, look like he meant horns???)
The breasts on the female statues in the Medici Chapel in Florence (ex. “the Night”) look like he had never seen a live woman’s breasts though!

By: Helen

Helen — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:26:53 +0000

Read the Old Testament Book of Exodus 34:28-35 for details about Moses’ countenance after he spent 40 days with the Lord God of Israel. “…the skin of his face shone”. Another translation could be “rays of light”.

By: Cesare DeLuca

Cesare DeLuca — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 18:07:16 +0000

Regarding the “horns”: I got a different answer when I asked a Jewish
traveler with me. He said these were rays of light, depicting God’s
“conversations” with Moses.

By: Angelina Limato

Angelina Limato — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 19:57:24 +0000

I haven’t been lucky enough to see any of his or the other artists work in person so can only imagine how breathtaking they must be when the pictures are so wonderful. I am awed at how the garments flow even though they are made of stone. I am amazed at the life in the body eventhough there is none. The muscular features, veins, hair it is if a person were turned into stone themselves. How wonderful it must have been to be able to create such beauty and marvelous work. I wonder if Michaeangelo was actually impressed with his own work as many artists are their own worse critics. To say I am impressed is an understatement. Thanks for sharing this the legend also.

By: L. Selter

L. Selter — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 18:31:08 +0000

The interesting thing about Michaelangelo’s depiction of the halo as horns is that in contributed to the long held belief that Jews had horns.This then became incorporated into many antisemitic drawings and literature.

By: D. Bianchi

D. Bianchi — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 18:00:57 +0000

My wife and I have visited this church and each time left impressed. I can understand the artist’s desire for it to speak. By the way, there is a great example of the Roman viaducts near to the church, which typifies Rome: Ancient, Rinsciamento and almost modern.

By: Bob Connelly

Bob Connelly — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 17:59:25 +0000

I remember seeing this on our first visit to Rome. I was astounded that it so out in the open and unguarded, expect for the old guy asleep in his chair) I had to resist the temptation to touch. I still tell the story of how we found the church with the aid of a shopkeeper who left his one man store and walked with us for one and a half blocks to be certain that we turned on the correct street.

By: Helen Ruchti

Helen Ruchti — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:50:11 +0000

During our 25 years in Roma, my husband and I took a Texas doctor to see the Moses. The doctor looked carefully at the muscles and veins and said Michelangelo’s carving was anatomically correct.

On August 1, the reliquary of Peter’s chains under the altar in the Church of St. Peter in Chains is open so the faithful can touch the cold, clammy chains from the Roman jail.

Read about these Italian treasures and others in my book, La Bella Vita–Daily Inspiration from Italy – ISBN 978-1-60-148-012-5

By: Michael Yaccino

Michael Yaccino — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:59:26 +0000

It was the Knee. I was there when it happened!

By: Christina Sbarra

Christina Sbarra — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:47:09 +0000

The mark is actually on the knee – I see now the comment from Phil, he is right.