The Dance around the Golden Calf
The Dance around the Golden Calf
The Dance around the Golden Calf
By Karel van Mander
The Dance around the Golden Calf
The Dance around the Golden Calf
The Dance around the Golden Calf

This painting depicts a story from the book of Exodus (Exodus 32). While Moses climbed Mount Sinai, the Israelites made an idol. They melted their golden earrings into a golden calf. We see how the Israelites sacrifice a burnt offering to their new idol, accompanied with exuberant festivities. They don’t know yet that soon Moses will come down from the mountain. Nor do they know that out of anger he will smash the two stone tablets with the ten commandments.