Moses striking the Rock

Hendrick van Balen treated this subject on several occasions, including in a painting today in Antwerp and two coppers whose present location is unknown (see B. Werche, Hendrick van Balen (1575-1632): Ein Antwerpener Kabinettbildmaler der Rubenszeit, I, Turnhout, 2004, pp. 136-137, nos. A5-A7; II, pp. 317-318, figs. A5-A7). Bettina Werche published a slightly reduced version of the present composition, with slight changes, in the collection of the Herzog Anton Ulrich-Museum, Brunswick (inv. no. 82), which she suggested is after 'ein gemeinsames bisher nicht entdecktes Original von Van Balen' ('a common hitherto undiscovered original by van Balen'; op. cit., no. E2). She further records a large variant sold as Hans Jordaens at Christie's, London, 25 May 1978, lot 94.