KARL MÜLLER

KARL MÜLLER MOSES WITH THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL KARL MÜLLER Darmstadt 1818–1893 Bad Neuenahr Pencil on paper, signed "Karl Muller 1880 November" 30 x 51 cm / 11.8 x 20.1 inches; unframed, signed lower right: Karl Muller 1880 November PROVENANCE Austria, private collection Determining the subject of an artwork can sometimes be a real challenge. This was exactly the case when I acquired this drawing. At first glance, I was convinced that it depicted a scene from the New Testament. However, my friend, Mikhail Pyzhov, an ecclesiastic, noted an important detail: the main character emits light in the form of horns. This distinctive visual element clearly identifies Moses, which means we are facing an episode from the Old Testament. The next step was to establish the specific event represented. The absence of the Tablets of the Law in Moses' hands ruled out the scene of his descent from Mount Sinai. This drawing instead depicts another moment: Moses addressing the people of Israel to convey his teachings. This scene recalls the passage from Deuteronomy: "Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up." (Deuteronomy 6:4-9) Religious painting played a central role in the work of Karl Müller, the artist who created this drawing. A representative of the Düsseldorf School, he sought to express a profound spirituality and elevated symbolism in his works. His artistic style was formed under the influence of the Nazarene movement, with which he came into contact during his travels in Italy. Subsequently, Müller actively participated in the frescoes of churches and taught historical painting at the Düsseldorf Academy of Fine Arts, where his work gained wide recognition. This drawing, created in 1880, is signed and dated: "Karl Muller 1880 November." It represents an extraordinary example of religious art from the late 19th century, illustrating the era's characteristic attention to detail, spiritual depth, and refined artistic technique.