Lot 20: Hans Caspar Lang , Schaffhausen 1571 - 1645 moses' arms held up by aaron and hur, with the arms of abegg Pen and black ink, the glass sections indicated in red wash; vertical and horizontal folds; inscribed with color notes in red wash; bears device

Pen and black ink, the glass sections indicated in red wash; vertical and horizontal folds; inscribed with color notes in red wash; bears device of Lucas Cranach and date, lower left: 1549

measurements note 398 by 314 mm

D. Schindler (L.793);
with Paravicini, Basel;
with Paul Ganz, Basel, circa 1921

The coat of arms to the lower left is that of the Abegg family, but that on the right remains unidentified. The composition of the right half of the main scene is also found in a glass design by Lang in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, which was commissioned by the Markgraf von Ansbach-Bayreuth. The subject depicts the mighty desert battle between the Israelites and the Amelekite tribe. Moses found a vantage point overlooking the fighting with his brother Aaron and brother-in-law Hur. Keeping his arms raised, the Israelites were able to overpower their opponents, but when he let them fall by his side, the Amelekites advanced. When he tired, Aaron and Hur laid Moses upon a rock and held his arms for him until the end of the day, when the Israelites were finally victorious. Another design commissioned by the Abegg family is lot 37. See also lot 18.