' Moses Presenting The Tablets of The Law ' Phillipe de Champaigne (French 1602-1674) Oil on canvas , circa 1648 . Milwaukee Art Museum , Milwaukee .

...Brussels-born French artist Phillipe de Champaigne enjoyed a forty year period painting for aristocracy that included Louis X111 and Cardinal Richelieu . His attraction to the strict Jansenist Catholic reform movement may have underlain the rigorous truthfulness and careful skill that he brought to his intelligent interpretation of portraits and religious themes . Champaigne's asceticism and sincerity are evident in this portrayal of a courtly but exotic Moses presenting the Ten Commandments . With characteristic concern for accuracy , Champainge arranged the commandments in the order recommended by contemporary theologians and on tablets whose rectangular shape was considered authentic . His powerful naturalism , depicting each wrinkle and dirty fingernail as faithfully as the texture of the velvet , eloquently portrays the humble fervor of the prophet .