Live Auction 7534Old Master Prints
Rembrandt Harmensz. van Rijn
Lot 209

Rembrandt Harmensz. van Rijn

Abraham's Sacrifice (B., Holl. 35; H. 283)

Closed4 December 2007

Price Realised

GBP 46,100

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Rembrandt Harmensz. van Rijn
Abraham's Sacrifice (B., Holl. 35; H. 283)
etching, 1655, a very good impression, with burr particularly to the left of the logs beneath the bowl, with narrow margins on three sides, a wider margin below, with a soft horizontal crease (only visible on the reverse), minor pale brown staining on the reverse, in very good condition, framed
P. 156 x 130 mm., S. 164 x 135 mm.

R. Balmanno (L. 213), with his inscription dated 1819 in pen and ink on the reverse.
With Craddock and Barnard, London, 1955, according to an inscription on the backboard.

Specialist note

Clearly linked in terms of size and subject the present work can be seen as forming a pair with Rembrandt's etching entitled Abraham and Isaac (B. 34). The parable concerns the test of faith set by God for Abraham in which he was commanded to make a burnt offering of his son, Isaac. At the point where Abraham drew his knife an angel appeared saying 'Now I know you are a God-fearing man. You have not withheld me from your son.' A ram, which had got caught in a thicket nearby, was sacrificed in Isaac's place.

Rembrandt has followed the written source very closely. According to Genesis 'Abraham said unto his young men: abide ye here with the ass and I and the lad will go yonder and worship.' The two young men, and the ass upon which Abraham made the journey, can be seen at the right waiting a little below the hill where the action takes place. The ram can just be made out at the left.