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Elijah's Sacrifice

Unknown

1645

From the collection of Statens Museum for Kunst

Baroque Baroque

Dominant colour

Elijah's Sacrifice is a 1645 by Unknown, a Baroque work, held at Statens Museum for Kunst.

Who painted this?: Unknown
When & what style?: 1645 · Baroque
Where can I see it?: Statens Museum for Kunst

About this work

This painting shows a chaotic scene with a crowd of people in the background. In the center, a large fire burns on a wooden platform, and a bull is being roasted on a spit. To the left, a group of people—some standing, some kneeling—watch the fire, with one person raising their arms. Scattered tools and pots lie on the ground, and a child sits alone, looking down. The fire’s smoke swirls dramatically, creating a sense of movement and drama. The artist used strong contrasts between light and dark to make the scene feel intense. Next, look up the technique: chiaroscuro to see how artists use light and shadow like this.