Die Hinrichtung der Rotte Korah 

Giovanni Francesco Penni made this drawing of the execution of Korah and his followers, sometime in the early 16th century. The subject comes from the Book of Numbers in the Old Testament, in which Korah, along with other Israelites, rebels against Moses and Aaron. God punishes them by opening up the earth, swallowing Korah, his followers, and their possessions. This sepia drawing would have been made in Italy at a time when the Catholic church was the main patron for the arts, meaning its influence had an undeniable effect on the art being made. The story of Korah provided a warning against questioning authority. Penni's image, then, reinforces the conservative values of the church and state. To understand this drawing better, we can consult historical texts about the role of religion in Renaissance Italy and in the politics of the Vatican itself. The meaning of art always depends on the social conditions in which it was made.