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.

Aidiladha : 亚伯拉罕 的 献祭

Aidiladha 音译为献祭节、也称哈芝节 ( Hari Raya Haji ) 、古尔邦节 ( Hari Raya Korban )， 是伊斯兰教的重要节日。落于回历每年的12 月10 日（ Zulhijjah / Dhu al-Hijjah ) 。

该节日是为了纪念亚伯拉罕 （ Ibrahim / Abraham ) 向真主阿拉 ( Allah ) 献祭爱子以实玛利 ( Ismail / Ishmael )，以示顺服。

亚伯拉罕老年得子。纵然家财万贯，却无子续后。眼见自己一天一天老去，爱妻亦已断经多年，老亚伯拉罕却不死心。于是纳了妻子女仆夏甲为妾。果然宝刀未老，夏甲给他生了一个儿子，名以实玛利。老亚伯拉罕视以实玛利为心肝宝贝。

岂知真主阿拉却命令老亚伯拉罕把以实玛利当祭品献上。老亚伯拉罕和幼子以实玛利也十分顺服阿拉。当亚伯拉罕举刀割以实玛利的喉咙之时，以实玛利几乎有金钟护身，刀枪不入，伤他不得。又有公羊陷在树丛里，动弹不得，便捉来献祭，成了代罪羔羊。

以实玛利是亚伯拉罕的至宝，可是还不至于大过他对阿拉的顺服。

The Sacrifice of Isaac, Rembrandt, 1635

什么是排在我们生命中的第一位？

什么是我们的至宝？生命？妻儿？财富？

什么是我们的至爱？自己？父母？娇妻？独子？

什么是我们千方百计要得到的？青春？健康？名牌？名声？

什么是我们老年的保障？金钱？孩子？保险？

什么是和我们影不离身的？偶像剧？电玩？

什么是我们活着的能源？烟？酒？毒？性？

什么是我们活着的目的？旅游？美食？

什么是我们放不下的？那一口气？那一份执著？

当亚伯拉罕选择顺服阿拉，把爱子献上为祭时，已顺利通过真主阿拉得试验了。亚伯拉罕选择真主阿拉为他的生活的供应者、患难中的依靠、 生命的主宰、永生的盼望。