Abraham banishes Hagar and Ishmael

Employing chiaroscuro, the artist models forms through strong contrasts of light and shadow, which illuminate faces and drapery while receding background elements into darkness. The palette of rich reds, blues, and earth tones reflects early Baroque influences, and the handling of oil paint achieves a tactile sense of volume and spatial recession within the landscape.

The work was produced by Sir Godfrey Knell, a German‑born painter who rose to prominence as a court artist in late Stuart and early Georgian England. Though primarily celebrated for portraiture, he applied his skill to this biblical subject. The canvas now resides in the Alte Pinakothek, where it forms part of the museum’s collection of 17th‑century European paintings.

Executed during a period when English patrons favored religious and historical subjects, the painting reflects the Baroque aesthetic imported from Italy to Britain. Knell’s position within the royal court granted him access to sophisticated artistic trends, allowing him to integrate dramatic lighting and narrative composition characteristic of contemporary continental art.