Artwork
Sacrifice of Noah
Sacrifice of Noah is an oil painting by the Early Baroque Italian artist Johann König. It dates from 1625 and is held in the collection of the Gemäldegalerie Berlin.
About this work
If you're interested in learning more about this style of painting, you might want to explore the technique of chiaroscuro.
This painting depicts a serene landscape with a group of people in the foreground, some of whom are lying on the ground. In the background, there is a body of water, trees, and hills. The sky is painted in shades of yellow and blue, with a figure floating in the air above the group.
The scene appears to be a biblical depiction, possibly from the Book of Noah. The use of oil paint and the style of the artwork suggest that it may be from the early 17th century.
If you're interested in learning more about this style of painting, you might want to explore the technique of chiaroscuro.
Overview
Johann König’s *Sacrifice of Noah* (1625) is an oil painting executed on a copper support. The work measures only a few centimeters across, reflecting König’s preference for intimate, finely detailed panels. It is part of the collection of the Gemäldegalerie in Berlin.
Subject & Meaning
The composition illustrates a biblical episode from the Genesis narrative of Noah, showing a group gathered for a sacrificial rite. Figures are arranged in a tranquil landscape, with some reclining on the ground, while a solitary figure hovers above, suggesting a divine presence overseeing the offering.
Technique & Style
König employs the luminous qualities of oil on copper, a medium that allows for precise brushwork and a smooth, reflective surface. The painting displays a restrained palette of yellow‑blue skies, muted earth tones, and delicate modeling of light and shadow, echoing the chiaroscuro influences of his mentor, Adam Elsheimer.
History & Provenance
Created in the early seventeenth century, the piece reflects König’s activity in German artistic circles after his apprenticeship with Elsheimer’s workshop. It entered the Gemäldegalerie’s holdings through the museum’s early twentieth‑century acquisitions of German Baroque works.
Context
König’s small copper panels were typical of a niche market for devotional images intended for private contemplation. The *Sacrifice of Noah* aligns with contemporary interests in biblical subjects rendered with naturalistic detail and a focus on atmospheric effects, hallmarks of the transition from Mannerism to early Baroque in northern Europe.
Artist & collection
Artist
Johann König (21 October 1586 – 4 March 1642) was a German painter. He was a follower of Adam Elsheimer. He is known primarily for his painted copper panels.
