Artwork
The Sacrifice of Isaac
The Sacrifice of Isaac is an oil painting by the French Classical Baroque artist Laurent de La Hyre. It dates from 1650 and is held in the collection of the Detroit Institute of Arts.
About this work
Overview
Laurent de La Hyre, a prominent Parisian painter of the mid‑17th century, executed an oil painting titled *The Sacrifice of Isaac* around 1650. The work belongs to the religious genre and is part of the Detroit Institute of Arts collection.
Subject & Meaning
The canvas portrays the biblical episode in which Abraham, clothed in a vivid red robe, prepares to slay his son Isaac on a stone altar. An angel descends from the left, extending a hand to halt the sacrifice, while the bound Isaac appears frightened, emphasizing themes of obedience, divine intervention, and mercy.
Technique & Style
La Hyre employs a restrained, classical vocabulary associated with Parisian Atticism, a neoclassical current within French Baroque art. The composition balances dramatic narrative with a calm, orderly arrangement; the bright red garment and the angel’s white wings provide focal accents against a muted landscape of trees and a cloud‑filled sky.
History & Provenance
Created circa 1650, the painting entered the Detroit Institute of Arts at an unspecified date, where it remains on view. Its provenance prior to acquisition is not documented in the available sources.
Context
During the French Baroque period, artists like La Hyre often merged theatrical storytelling with classical restraint. *The Sacrifice of Isaac* reflects this synthesis, aligning biblical subject matter with the measured elegance favored by Parisian patrons and academies of the era.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Laurent de La Hyre (French pronunciation: ; 27 February 1606 – 28 December 1656) was a French Baroque painter, born in Paris. He was a leading exponent of the neoclassical style of Parisian Atticism.
