Michelangelo's marble sculpture of Moses Moses for Pope Julius II's tomb, c. 1513-15; at the church of San Pietro in Vincoli, Rome. It is one of the most important works by the Italian Renaissance master. In addition to being a powerful work of art, Moses also has religious significance for Christians because it is believed that he received this command from God before he went up on Mount Sinai (see Exodus 6:6). After finishing the Moses sculpture, Michelangelo told his friend and colleague Giorgio Vasari that he had been moved by the story of Moses receiving the commandments at Sinai. He said that he wanted to create a statue that would help people understand what Jesus' message was before he died on the cross. Michelangelo lived until 95 years old, but he didn't live long enough to see his dream of creating a monument that would honor the birth of Christ fulfilled when Napoleon's soldiers carried away the original stone body of Moses to France. The sculpture is now housed in the Church of San Pietro in Vincoli in Rome.