Artwork Page for The Sacrifice of Isaac

Details / Information for The Sacrifice of Isaac

The Sacrifice of Isaac

1750s

Francesco Guardi

(Italian, 1712–1793)
View all records in artwork set
Culture
Italy, 18th century
Medium
oil on canvas
Measurements
Framed: 71 x 90.5 x 5.5 cm (27 15/16 x 35 5/8 x 2 3/16 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 1952.235.1
Public Domain
You can copy, modify, and distribute this work, all without asking permission. Learn more about CMA's Open Access Initiative.
Location
201 French Neoclassical Painting & Sculpture
Print

Description

This series of paintings primarily tells the Old Testament story of Abraham and Isaac, and each of the canvases depicts the interaction of humans and angels. In three works, angels appear to Abraham, and in one particularly dramatic canvas, an angel intercepts Abraham before he sacrifices his own son. Like another work in this series, Tobias and the Angels, the Sacrifice of Isaac is a narrative about fathers and sons as well as obedience inspired by faith.
A horizontally oriented oil painting features loose brushwork and a palette of muted blues and earthy reds. Three figures with light skin tones form the focus: Abraham, an older man with a gray beard, brandishes a knife while looking up at a winged woman descending from clouds. Beside him, Isaac lies nude on a pile of wood. The woman reaches toward Abraham's shoulder. At left, a pale blue sky reveals a distant landscape.

The Sacrifice of Isaac

1750s

Francesco Guardi

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

See Also

Visually Similar by AI

    Contact Us

    The information about this object, including provenance, may not be currently accurate. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please fill out the appropriate request form linked below:

    Update or Correct Artwork Information

    Imagery or Rights for Non-Open-Access Artworks

    Report a Website Issue

    Further Questions About This Artwork