Expulsion of Hagar by Abraham

Giordano employs a pronounced chiaroscuro, allowing illuminated forms to emerge from a deep, shadowy background. The dramatic lighting accentuates the textures of the blue‑red robe and the aged beard, while the muted palette and vigorous brushwork convey movement and psychological intensity typical of the late Baroque period.

Created in the mid‑17th century, the painting entered the Austrian imperial collection during the 18th century and has remained in the Kunsthistorisches Museum since. Its provenance traces a path from Giordano’s workshop in Naples to the Habsburg court, illustrating the work’s appeal to royal patrons.

The scene derives from Genesis 21, where Abraham, following divine instruction, bids Hagar and her son Ishmael to depart. Giordano’s rendering aligns with contemporary Counter‑Reformation art, emphasizing moral instruction through vivid emotional expression and a focus on the human drama of biblical exile.