Artwork
Hagar and Ishmael in the Desert
Hagar and Ishmael in the Desert is an oil painting by the Early Baroque Italian artist Francesco Cozza. It dates from 1665 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Overview
Francesco Cozza’s oil painting, dated 1665, portrays the biblical episode of Hagar and her son Ishmael in a desert setting. The work is part of the Rijksmuseum’s collection and measures the dramatic encounter between the mother, child, and a divine messenger.
Subject & Meaning
The composition centers on Hagar, clothed in a vivid red garment, rushing toward the left while her infant son lies prone on the right. Above them, an angel descends with outstretched arms, suggesting divine intervention in their moment of peril.
Technique & Style
Cozza employs chiaroscuro to model the figures, creating a strong contrast of light and shadow that gives them three‑dimensional presence. The rocky terrain, scattered trees, and expansive blue sky are rendered with a restrained palette, enhancing the scene’s tension.
History & Provenance
Completed in the mid‑17th century, the painting entered the Rijksmuseum’s holdings at an unspecified date, where it remains on display as an example of religious narrative art from the Italian Baroque period.
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