The Worship of the Golden Calf (work of art)
Artwork Info
Key Ideas about this Work of Art
- This painting depicts a story from Exodus in the Hebrew Bible. The story warns people against the worship of anything other than God. The second of the Ten Commandments claims that this is a sin.
- Jan Steen was a Dutch artist in the 17th century. He is known for his visual storytelling abilities. He often painted lively and chaotic scenes with a playful attitude. He often included an image of himself in his paintings. In The Worship of the Golden Calf, he is the man shown playing the triangle at center.
- Jan Steen was a lifelong Catholic. He lived during a period of religious debate in favor of Protestantism. The Dutch Revolt was a conflict between Catholic Spain and Dutch Protestants that ended in 1648.
- Dutch colonization and trade brought wealth to the Netherlands during the 17th century. There were many developments in the arts and sciences during this time.
Learn More
While Moses was away on Mount Sinai to receive the tablets of the Ten Commandments from God, his brother, Aaron, complied with the wishes of the Israelites and fashioned a golden idol for them to worship. Jan Steen, the most talented Dutch storyteller, painted the celebrations that followed.
Among the revelers is the painter himself, who amuses the woman in the center foreground by playing the triangle. An atmosphere of luxury, excess, and the exotic fills the foreground, as Steen carefully describes fine satin fabrics, musical instruments, silver platters and beakers, flowers, ripe fruit, and a parrot.
Additional Resources
Resources for Teachers
- Read an article that explains the term “Dutch Golden Age.”
- Read an article about the story of the Worship of the Golden Calf.
- Watch a video about the comedic elements in Jan Steen’s painting.
Resources for Students
- View an online gallery that features humorous works by Jan Steen.
- Watch a video about the Eighty Years’ War (also known as the Dutch Revolt).
- View another painting that depicts the same subject matter.
Images
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The Worship of the Golden Calf