The artwork, titled “Moses and the Burning Bush,” was created by Orthodox Icons between the 12th and 13th centuries. It belongs to the Middle Byzantine art movement (circa 850-1204) and also showcases influences from the Latin Empire of Constantinople (1204-1261). This piece is an iconographic representation within the genre of icon art and forms part of a series depicting saints. The esteemed location of this significant artifact is Saint Catherine’s Monastery, Mount Sinai, Egypt, where it remains on display.
The artwork vividly portrays the biblical episode where Moses encounters the burning bush, a pivotal moment of divine revelation. In the composition, Moses is depicted with a solemn and attentive demeanor, one hand removing his sandals as he approaches the miraculous bush ablaze with fire yet unconsumed. The background and setting are rendered in the characteristic Byzantine iconographic style, with rich, expressive colors, particularly the gold and red hues emphasizing the sanctity and divine nature of the scene. The work’s meticulous detail and symbolic depth highlight its function as an object of veneration and spiritual reflection in the liturgical context of Eastern Orthodox Christianity.