Joshua addresses the Israelites in Shechem

Joshua speaks to the chiefs of the Israelite tribes in the ancient city of Shechem. The Israelites had conquered Canaan; the land had been divided among the tribes. Joshua made them promise obedience to the Lord. Not long after this speech, he would die, 110 years old.

This drawing on paper was a sketch for one of the fresco's Raphael made in the Vatican palace, in the loggia that was named after the artist. The fresco's depicted episodes from the Old Testament.