Jacques Jordaens, Moses, Aaron and Miriam

There are three people in the drawing. Moses stands on the far right. His sister Miriam and brother Aaron stand to his left and criticise Moses for having married a black woman. Moses appears to be speaking in an attempt to defend his wife, who is not shown. Behind them, God, in the form of a dark cloud, listens in on the conversation.  

The drawing refers to a passage in the Old Testament book of Numbers. All elements of the text are reproduced almost verbatim in the drawing.   

This drawing is related to Jordaens' later painting Moses and his Ethiopian Wife. Not an easy feat as they could not be more different. While the drawing features three people, there are only two in the painting. The cloud has disappeared with a black woman taking its place.  

Nonetheless, the similarities are striking. Moses' horns, like tufts of hair that stick up, are also visible in the painting. So are his frown, pointed nose, red cheeks and dark beard. Even the hand gesture and folds of his robes are similar. 

While the same story inspired the drawing and painting, they are very different. The drawing is a meticulous representation of the Biblical text. For his painting, Jordaens decided he wanted to do things differently. While the study highlights disapproval, Jordaens chooses to shift the focus to love in the painting. Aaron and Miriam have disappeared, and Moses' wife has been given a prominent place, making the message much more powerful. 

A comparison of the two works gives us a rare insight into Jordaens's surprising creative process. You can see how the artist grapples with the subject. In the new composition, he gets the message across much better, making a powerful statement about equality.  

So we now know how modern Jordaens was, thanks, in part, to this drawing. This also explains why this rare study is so important. The Rubenshuis purchased this valuable study and added it to its collection, ensuring the drawing and painting remain together.