The Adoration of the Golden Calf 1634

Nicolas Poussin painted “The Adoration of the Golden Calf” in oil on canvas in the mid-1630s, while working in Rome. The image depicts an episode from the Book of Exodus, in which the Israelites, despairing of Moses' return from Mount Sinai, melt down their gold jewelry and fashion a false idol. Painted for a private collector, Poussin’s composition would have encouraged the viewer to reflect on the perils of abandoning true faith. But it also comments on the culture of Catholic Rome. At the time, the papacy was eager to assert its power, as well as to defend the use of images in worship, against the criticisms of Protestants. We know from his correspondence that Poussin was a devout Catholic, but he was also deeply interested in the history and culture of ancient Rome, which he saw as a model of civic virtue. To further explore this painting, examine Poussin's other works and read contemporary religious treatises. Through a study of the cultural context, we can better understand how art both reflects and shapes society.