Artwork
Paradise with Christ in the Lap of Abraham
Paradise with Christ in the Lap of Abraham is a tempera drawing by German 13th Century. It dates from 1239 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
The work titled *Paradise with Christ in the Lap of Abraham* is a tempera drawing on vellum, enhanced with gold leaf. Its composition centers on a bearded, haloed figure cradling a child, surrounded by robed attendants. A palm tree rises behind them, while a border of bold red and blue frames the scene.
Subject & Meaning
The central figure is identified as Abraham, holding the infant Christ, a motif that merges Old Testament and New Testament themes. Encircling them, small circular vignettes depict nude figures immersed in water, a visual reference to purification or rebirth, reinforcing the theological concept of salvation.
Technique & Style
Executed in temperate pigments mixed with egg yolk, the drawing employs flat, vivid hues of gold, blue, red, and green, each delineated by strong black outlines. The gold leaf adds a reflective surface, while the use of vellum provides a smooth, translucent support that accentuates the crisp linear quality of the composition.
History & Provenance
The piece is catalogued as a drawing rather than a painting, suggesting it was likely intended for devotional or instructional use. Specific details of its origin, patronage, or collection history have not been recorded, leaving its early provenance uncertain.
Artist & collection
Artist
This German artist from the 13th century painted tiny religious scenes on vellum, using gold leaf and bright colors.
The Nativity with Six Dominican Monks
Adoration of the Magi
The Last Judgment with the Apostles
The Madonna Enthroned with Eighteen Holy Women
The Trinity
The Transfiguration
The Descent of the Holy Ghost
Madonna and Child in a Rosary
The Descent of the Holy Ghost
Madonna and Child in a Glory Standing on a Crescent Moon
Holy Kinship