Moses, Rachel and Lea by Michelangelo

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by Henk Bekker

marble Moses (Mosè di Michelangelo)in the St Peter in Chains church

The only sculpture Michelangelo completed on the final Tomb of Julius II is the seated Moses which became the center of the work. He also worked on the two sculptures flanking Moses (but these were completed by assistants): Rachel and Leah, allegories of the contemplative and the active life — symbols of the two ways to salvation.