Neapolitan School Artist, Agar & the Angel and The Sacrifice of Isaac, 1700s, Oil on Canvas Paintings, Framed, Set of 2

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18th-Century Neapolitan Master
Pair of Paintings "Hagar and the Angel" and "The Sacrifice of Isaac"

Pair of Oils on Oval … Read more 18th-Century Neapolitan Master
Pair of Paintings "Hagar and the Angel" and "The Sacrifice of Isaac"

Pair of Oils on Oval Canvas

75 x 60 cm - Framed 84 x 69 cm.

The pair of paintings offered, works by a Neapolitan artist active between the 17th and 18th centuries, depict two biblical episodes from the life of Abraham, specifically involving the patriarch's two sons, Ishmael and Isaac, as narrated in the Book of Genesis.

The first painting depicts little Ishmael, Abraham's firstborn, born from his union with the Egyptian slave Hagar. This union was consented to by his wife Sarah, who, by then old, believed she could no longer have an heir, and who intended to adopt him upon giving birth.

After the birth of his son Isaac, however, his wife Sarah becomes acutely jealous of the young slave girl Hagar, and Abraham is forced to send her away along with their son Ishmael.

In the illustrated episode, we see Hagar, lost in the desert of Beersheba and desperate over the impending death of her young son, rescued by the Archangel Michael, who shows her a spring to which she can bring her child to quench his thirst.

The second painting tells the story of Isaac, Abraham's second son, born to his wife Sarah, though she was advanced in age.

God subjected Abraham to an extraordinary test of obedience, and to test the strength of his faith, orders him to sacrifice him. Abraham goes without hesitation to Mount Moriah, and as he diligently prepares to perform the sacrifice, already holding his knife, he is stopped by the angel sent by the Lord, who grasps his wrist with a strong and firm grip, and shows him a ram to be sacrificed as a substitute sacrifice. This piece is attributed to the mentioned designer/maker. It has no attribution mark and no
official proof of authenticity,
however it is well documented in design history. I take full responsibility for any authenticity



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