“Hear,O Israel” is the heading to the tablets that Moses is holding; this is followed by the Ten Commandments, all in large, easily read lettering. It was typical of Philippe de Champaigne (1602-74) that he should provide his human figures with detailed facial features. The aging, wrinkled Moses is an example of this. Champaigne also emphasises Moses’ rich spiritual life as opposed to his undemanding worldly existence. The elegant apparel is in contrast to Moses’ filthy finger nails.
For a number of years, Champaigne was painter to the French court. The engravers Gérard Edelinck and Robert Nanteuil also enjoyed the favour of the French King Louis XIV (1638-1715). However, Champaigne painted this study of Moses shortly after becoming interested in the frugal life of the Jansenists in the middle of the 1640s. Jansenism derived its name from that of its founder Cornelius Jansen (1585-1638). It represented a serious and very strict form of Catholicism, in which its adherents practised a penitential form of piety and distanced themselves from the things of this world. Jansenism was one of several reactions to Lutheranism. It arose as one of the spiritual fraternities within the Catholic Church.
Le Sommaire de la Loy et des Prophetes: / Aime Dieu de tout ton Coeur / Et ton Prochain comme Toy meme / A MESSIRE ACHILLE DE HARLAY PREMIER PRESIDENT [...]
