Artwork Page for The Angels Appearing to Abraham

Details / Information for The Angels Appearing to Abraham

The Angels Appearing to Abraham

1750s

Francesco Guardi

(Italian, 1712–1793)
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Culture
Italy, 18th century
Medium
oil on canvas
Measurements
Framed: 71 x 90.5 x 7 cm (27 15/16 x 35 5/8 x 2 3/4 in.); Unframed: 56.5 x 75.5 cm (22 1/4 x 29 3/4 in.)
Credit Line
Mr. and Mrs. William H. Marlatt Fund 1952.235.3
Public Domain
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Location
201 French Neoclassical Painting & Sculpture
Print

Description

After their initial meeting, Abraham graciously offered to feed the angels and wash their feet. Following the meal, they announce that his wife Sarah, long past child-bearing age, will soon have a son, fulfilling a promise God had made earlier to Abraham. The artist presents the moment of revelation, the angels resplendent in their pastel gowns and feathery wings, with Sarah learning the news while hiding behind their cottage door.
A horizontally oriented oil painting features loose, painterly brushstrokes and a muted palette of blue, brown, and gold. On our left, three winged figures with light skin tones cluster on a pale cloud; the topmost points skyward. On our right, Abraham, with a medium-light skin tone in a yellow robe, bows low to the ground. A figure watches from a stone opening on the far right, framed by a palm tree and classical architecture.

The Angels Appearing to Abraham

1750s

Francesco Guardi

(Italian, 1712–1793)
Italy, 18th century

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