Renaissance Art - The Sacrifice of Abraham 1636

The Sacrifice of Abraham

Artist : Rembrandt van Rijn. 1606-1669

Date : 1636

Material : canvas

Technique : oil

Dimensions : 195x132 cm

Current Location : Alte Pinakothek, Munich, Germany

Note :

This painting was started by one of Rembrandt’s students. 

At some point, Rembrandt took over and finished it.

The composition and figures are similar to the  1635’s The Sacrifice of Isaac.

Renaissance Art : Sacrifice of Isaac 1635

 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.