3-098-335 - Heritage Art/Heritage Images

The Sacrifice of Isaac, c1696. Old Testament scene: Isaac lies on a sacrificial slab with his hands bound, obediently lowering his head under the pressure of his father Abraham's hand and making a prayerful gesture of resignation. Abraham, gripping a dagger, prepares to sacrifice his son just as an angel moves to stay his hand (Genesis). The scene is dominated by the dramatic tension between Abraham and the angel. The two figures in the upper plane are sharply silhouetted against the vivid blue of the sky.