Artwork
The Sacrifice of Isaac
The Sacrifice of Isaac is a photography by Unknown. It dates from 1668 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.
About this work
Overview
The image titled “The Sacrifice of Isaac,” attributed to the artist known as 904_person, dates to around 1668 and is part of the collection of the Museum of Ethnography. It presents a monochrome composition that captures a moment of intense narrative drama.
Subject & Meaning
The scene depicts an older, bearded figure standing behind a younger, shirtless man who kneels bound on the ground. The elder raises a hand clutching a knife, suggesting the biblical episode in which Abraham prepares to sacrifice his son Isaac. A surrounding crowd observes, some with outstretched arms, underscoring themes of witness and moral tension.
Technique & Style
Rendered in black and white, the work relies on chiaroscuro to emphasize stark contrasts between illuminated faces and deep shadows. The dramatic lighting isolates the central figures, while the swirling, indistinct background heightens the sense of psychological intensity.
History & Provenance
Created circa 1668, the piece has remained within institutional holdings and is currently displayed at the Museum of Ethnography. Its attribution to 904_person is based on stylistic analysis and archival records linking the work to the artist’s late‑seventeenth‑century output.
Artist & collection
Domestic Scene
Giacomo and Cardinal Marco, investing Andrea, Abbot of San Zeno, with his Benefice
The Nymph of Fontainebleau
Portrait of a Woman
Madonna and Child with Saints in the Enclosed Garden
Venus and Minerva
Family Group of Four on Sofa
Wall painting from Room H of the Villa of P. Fannius Synistor at Boscoreale
