Who painted Abraham and Isaac on Their Way to Mount Moriah?

Abraham and Isaac on Their Way to Mount Moriah was painted by Peregrino da Cesena in 1500.

Where can I see Abraham and Isaac on Their Way to Mount Moriah?

Abraham and Isaac on Their Way to Mount Moriah is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Abraham and Isaac on Their Way to Mount Moriah?

Abraham and Isaac on Their Way to Mount Moriah is associated with Renaissance.

Artwork

Abraham and Isaac on Their Way to Mount Moriah

Peregrino da Cesena , 1500

Abraham and Isaac on Their Way to Mount Moriah is a print by the Renaissance artist Peregrino da Cesena. It dates from 1500 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Abraham and Isaac on Their Way to Mount Moriah is a niello print executed around 1500 by the Italian artist Peregrino da Cesena. The work belongs to the early Renaissance period and presents a narrative scene drawn from the biblical account of Abraham’s near‑sacrifice of his son.

Subject & Meaning

The composition depicts a group of men transporting a large, curved frame that serves as a stretcher, within which a bound figure is concealed. The concealed figure alludes to the sacrificial victim, echoing the story of Abraham’s test of faith on Mount Moriah. The solemn expressions of the carriers reinforce the gravity of the episode.

Technique & Style

Created with the niello technique, the print combines engraved lines with a blackened inlay that yields deep, velvety shadows. The figures are rendered with a restrained linearity typical of early sixteenth‑century prints, while the surrounding foliage is suggested through simplified, rhythmic strokes that frame the central action.

History & Provenance

The print originates from the workshop of Peregrino da Cesena, a lesser‑known practitioner of the Venetian printmaking tradition. Surviving copies are documented in several European collections, though the work’s early ownership remains largely unrecorded.

Context

During the Renaissance, biblical narratives were frequently reproduced in prints to disseminate religious stories beyond the confines of painted altarpieces. This image reflects that trend, translating a dramatic scriptural moment into a portable, reproducible format for devotional use.