Mosaic Law, (painting).

Mosaic Law, (painting).

Aderente, Vincent, 1880-1941, painter.

Mosaic Law, (painting).

Digital Reference:

(Lower right:) PAINTED BY VINCENT ADERENTE - COPYRIGHT 1940 signed

The following description of the mural was written by Vincent Aderente: "In center of panel, Moses presents to his people the tablets on which are inscribed the ten commandments. Left foreground, a priest with prayer shawl. Back of him, the merchants and Aaron brother of Moses, in the act of calling the tribes. Right, in foreground, the shepherd and the slave kneeling, to his right, the wealthy man with his family, above him, the holy man. In the background, the multitude coming over the mountains to hear Moses speak."

Allegory -- Civic -- Law

Landscape -- Mountain

Religion -- Old Testament -- Ten Commandments

Religion -- Old Testament -- Moses

Religion -- Old Testament -- Aaron

State of Being -- Other -- Enslaved

Occupation -- Farm -- Shepherd

Occupation -- Religion -- Clergy

Queens Supreme Courthouse, 88-11 Sutphin Boulevard, Staircase, left side, Jamaica, New York 11435

One of two murals flanking the grand staircase in the main lobby of the Queens Supreme Courthouse. These are the last two murals Vincent Aderente painted in 1940. He passed away the following year after their completion. The cost of the two murals was $20,000. Mayor LaGuardia offered to fund the Mosaic Law mural at city expense if the Queens County Bar Association would provide the additional funds for the Constitution Law mural (IAP 78460191). A committee was appointed and $3,500 was raised to defray the cost. This mural and its companion mural Constitutional Law appear in the movie Shaft as Samuel L. Jackson runs up the lobby staircase and stops on the landing with the murals in the background. In 1938, the artist submitted four additional mural designs on the theme of Law for the Queens Supreme Courthouse, but these murals were never completed, possibly due to the cost, or to the artist's illness. The other four mural designs submitted were: Canon Legal Law on the west elevation, Drafting Napoleon Code on the south wall, Roman Legal Period on the north wall, and Ancient Egyptian Law on the east Wall.

King, Glenn, 2010.

The information provided about this artwork was compiled as part of the Smithsonian American Art Museum's Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture database, designed to provide descriptive and location information on artworks by American artists in public and private collections worldwide.

Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture, Smithsonian American Art Museum, P.O. Box 37012, MRC 970, Washington, D.C. 20013-7012

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