Moses strikes the rock for water

After studying in Weimar and Paris, Adolf Fényes (Kecskemét, 1867 – Budapest, 1945) attended the master classes of Gyula Benczúr. In 1898 he was one of the founders of the Art Colony of Szolnok, sponsored by Adolf Kohner. His painting Moses strikes the rock for water was purchased for the museum in 1922 by Simon Krausz, a bank manager famous for his audacious way of conducting business. The painting depicts a biblical scene when the Israelites were in the wilderness without water. Moses was upon the rock at Horeb, struck the rock and obtained drinking water from the rock with divine intervention. The Biblical text continues with the fight against, and defeat of, Amalek. For those who are well-versed in the biblical writings, it may have evoked the long history of attacks against Jews from generation to generation. (2 Moses 17)