Who painted Sacrifice of Isaac?

Sacrifice of Isaac was painted by Andreas Altomonte in 1740.

Where can I see Sacrifice of Isaac?

Sacrifice of Isaac is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Sacrifice of Isaac?

Sacrifice of Isaac is associated with Baroque.

Can I buy a print of Sacrifice of Isaac?

Museum-quality prints of Sacrifice of Isaac are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Sacrifice of Isaac

Andreas Altomonte , 1740

Sacrifice of Isaac is an ink print by the Baroque artist Andreas Altomonte. It dates from 1740 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

Inscription: Inscribed:lower margin in plate: ALT. 50, LAT: 38 unc/ DAVID TENIERS, Pinx: An 1653,/ Cum Privileo, S.C.M. ANDRE ALTOMONTE, INg: rs [superscript] Del: et Inci:

About this work

Overview

A small fire burns at their feet, and a steep rocky cliff rises immediately behind them, framing the action.

Created in 1740, Andreas Altomonte's etching 'Sacrifice of Isaac' depicts the biblical moment where Abraham prepares to sacrifice his son, halted by divine intervention. The composition centers on the two figures against a rugged landscape: an elderly, bearded Abraham kneels, gripping Isaac's wrist with one hand while raising a knife with the other. Both figures exhibit visible tension, capturing the psychological weight of the command.

A small fire burns at their feet, and a steep rocky cliff rises immediately behind them, framing the action. In the background, a distant town featuring towers and a church provides a sense of scale and setting. Altomonte, an Austrian painter and etcher active in the Baroque tradition, utilizes the medium to render dramatic chiaroscuro and emotional intensity typical of the period.

This work reflects the artist's engagement with religious narratives and his skill in translating painterly effects into the linear language of etching during the mid-eighteenth century.

Subject & Meaning

The work visualizes the test of faith described in Genesis, emphasizing the tension between obedience and compassion. The elder’s strained posture and the youth’s apprehensive stance convey the emotional weight of the impending sacrifice, while the flickering fire and looming cliff underscore the peril and divine intervention that ultimately halts the act.

Technique & Style

Altomonte employed the etching process, incising fine lines into a metal plate to achieve delicate modeling of the figures and textured landscape. The contrast between the crisp, controlled lines of the characters and the rough, cross‑hatched treatment of the rocks creates depth, while subtle shading suggests the glow of the small fire on the ground.

Context

Created in the mid‑18th century, the print reflects the period’s continued interest in biblical subjects rendered with dramatic chiaroscuro. Altomonte, known primarily for his frescoes, applied his experience with large‑scale narrative composition to the intimate scale of printmaking, allowing wider dissemination of the story.

Legacy

While not as widely reproduced as other biblical prints, Altomonte’s “Sacrifice of Isaac” demonstrates the capacity of etching to convey complex emotional narratives. The work remains a reference point for scholars examining the intersection of religious iconography and print techniques in the Austrian Baroque tradition.