St. Peter in Chains Rome: The Unbreakable Chains

In St. Peter in Chains Rome, Moses returns from a face-to-face meeting with God and senses trouble brewing back home. His followers are worshipping a golden calf, and as his anger builds, he glares at them with his physical strength serving as a symbol of his moral and spiritual fortitude as a leader of his people. The statue captures this powerful moment, with Moses’ left leg tucked under and tensed, ready to spring up and punish the Children of Israel with the Ten Commandments under his arm.

The cascading beard, one of the greatest in art history, adds to the impressive stature of the statue. Standing at 13 feet tall, it rivals the famous David by Michelangelo in height. This Charlton Heston-with-horns is interesting in photographs but awe-inspiring when confronted in person. His bare, muscular arms exude power and are a testament to Michelangelo’s mastery of the human form. The artist spent four years perfecting his craft, practicing by painting the seated prophets on the Sistine ceiling before creating this masterpiece in St. Peter in Chains Rome.