The Sacrifice of Isaac
Artist : Rembrandt
van Rijn. 1606-1669
Place : Holland
Date : 1635
Material : canvas
Technique :
oil
Dimensions :
193x132 cm
Current
Location : The State Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg, Russia
God ordered Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac as a test of his faith (Genesis, 22: 1-13). Abraham set out to carry out the command, proving his belief, but God sent an angel to stay his hand just as he was about to sink the knife into his son's body.
Rembrandt captures all the the dramatism of the culminating moment in this terrible intended sacrifice. Abraham's amazement as the angel stops him with hand raised is revealed in his expressive gesture and the strong expression of his face, which almost borders on madness.
We see a moment of great emotional tension, expressed in dynamic forms and lines. The heightened dramatism, monumental form, turbulent movement, sharp contrasts of light and shade are typical of Rembrandt's works of the 1630s and reflect in this painting the features of the Baroque style.
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