The Brazen Serpent by Benjamin West

The Brazen Serpent - Benjamin West -

Artwork Information

TitleThe Brazen Serpent
ArtistBenjamin West
Art MovementNeoclassicism
Current LocationBob Jones University (BJU), Greenville, SC, US

About The Brazen Serpent

“The Brazen Serpent,” created by Benjamin West, is a quintessential example of religious painting in the Neoclassical art movement. This artwork is currently located at Bob Jones University (BJU) in Greenville, SC, US.

The artwork vividly depicts a dramatic biblical scene, filled with dynamic movements and intense emotions. In the center, a powerful central figure, presumably Moses, holds aloft a staff with a serpent coiled around it. The surrounding individuals display a mix of anguish, desperation, and hope as they gaze upon or react to the serpent. The composition’s dramatic lighting and detailed expressions emphasize both physical and emotional suffering, while enhancing the narrative’s spiritual intensity. This masterful execution captures the Neoclassical emphasis on classical themes, moral virtue, and expressive realism.

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