The meaning of these horns has been heatedly disputed for many
centuries. The most universally accepted theory was that the horns
originated from the misinterpretation of Hebrew texts into Latin. A
quote in the Vulgate—the Holy Bible translated into Latin—says "And
when Moses came down from the Mount Sinai, he held the two tables of
the Testimony, and he knew not that his face was horned (Qaran) from
the conversation of the Lord." Qaran, or Qeren, in Hebrew meant both
“horned” and “glorified”, and this literal translation of “horns” persisted
throughout the Renaissance period. Michelangelo might have adhered to
this mistranslation and added the problematic horns.
However, this theory was repudiated in the 12th centuries when
“horn” connoted a negative impression due to its connection with the
Jews, who became identified with the devil. The depiction of Moses
with horns had diminished in other contemporary works during the
16th century. Without a plausible explanation, the meaning of the
horns seemed to be at lost along with Michelangelo and Pope Julius II’s
ambitious plan. Or, were the horns not simply Michelangelo’s mistake?
Whatever the reason, it seems certain that people are interested in
artists’ mistakes as much as in their works. Through mistakes, viewers
can identify with the artists as imperfect beings—just like everyone else.
Mistakes give a different sense of empathy that penetrates the context
and the medium of art. It is a truly universal human quality that lies
beneath the coordination of shapes, lines, and colors. When geniuses
like Michelangelo make mistakes, we can reaffirm that no matter how
transcendental the Old Masters may seem, they are still human beings
like ourselves. Apart from such value, however, mistakes can serve more
qualities.
Artists sometimes intentionally utilize mistakes as a medium of art. With
the start of the 20th century, a new trend of art that emphasized the
subjectivity of artists arose. Color and form became artists’ tools for
expressing their emotions, contrary to the previous purpose of depicting
nature realistically. Anything from a urinal to a jetty that manifested
artists’ ideas became a work of art. If a mistake can serve such a function,
then it can be part of the artwork. Early 20th century Modern Art pioneer,
Marcel Duchamp strongly believed in this idea.
The Bride Stripped Bare by her Bachelors - Philadelphia
Museum of Art, Philadelphia, PA, USA