Who painted Sacrifice of Iphigenia?

Sacrifice of Iphigenia was painted by Arnold Houbraken in 1695-01-01.

Where can I see Sacrifice of Iphigenia?

Sacrifice of Iphigenia is held by Rijksmuseum.

What movement is Sacrifice of Iphigenia?

Sacrifice of Iphigenia is associated with Dutch Golden Age.

Can I buy a print of Sacrifice of Iphigenia?

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

Artwork

Sacrifice of Iphigenia

Arnold Houbraken , 1698

Sacrifice of Iphigenia is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Arnold Houbraken. It dates from 1698 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

The work visualizes a pivotal narrative in Greek tragedy, where the conflict between honor and piety culminates in a moment of crisis and divine resolution.

The painting depicts the mythological episode in which Agamemnon sacrifices his daughter Iphigenia at the behest of the Greek fleet’s commander-in-chief, a moment recounted in Euripides’ Iphigenia at Aulis and other classical sources. In the scene, the central figure of Iphigenia kneels before an altar while Agamemnon, positioned to her side, raises a blade; Artemis appears in the heavens, often interpreted as interrupting or averting the sacrifice. The composition emphasizes the tension between familial duty and divine will, with the presence of Artemis signaling the intervention of higher powers to alter mortal fate.

The work visualizes a pivotal narrative in Greek tragedy, where the conflict between honor and piety culminates in a moment of crisis and divine resolution.

Technique & Style

Created in 1695, Sacrifice of Iphigenia is an oil painting executed on a canvas support. The work measures 80 cm in height and 64 cm in width. As a mythological painting, it depicts the narrative of Agamemnon, Iphigenia, and Artemis through the application of oil paint. The piece is currently held within the collection of the Rijksmuseum.

Context

Arnold Houbraken painted Sacrifice of Iphigenia in 1695, a mythological canvas now held by the Rijksmuseum, where it is classified as part of their mythological painting collection. The work depicts the Greek tragedy of Agamemnon sacrificing Iphigenia, a subject tied to Artemis' wrath, reflecting Baroque engagement with classical narratives. Scholarly attention to Houbraken's mythological oeuvre has emphasized his role in Dutch Golden Age narrative painting, situating this piece within his broader output of religious and mythological works.

Its presence in a major institutional collection underscores its art-historical significance as an example of 17th-century Dutch interpretation of mythological themes.

Overview

Arnold Houbraken’s Sacrifice of Iphigenia (1698) is an oil painting from the Dutch Golden Age that resides in the Rijksmuseum. The composition captures a pivotal moment from the Greek myth, assembling a crowd of onlookers around a central figure in elaborate dress, while a towering statue looms in the background beneath a sky mottled with clouds.

History & Provenance

Created in 1698, the painting reflects Houbraken’s dual role as artist and biographer of Dutch painters. It entered the Rijksmuseum’s collection as part of the museum’s effort to preserve representative works of the period, remaining a documented piece of the institution’s holdings.

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Artist & collection

Artist

Arnold Houbraken

Arnold Houbraken (28 March 1660 – 14 October 1719) was a Dutch painter and writer from Dordrecht, now remembered mainly as a biographer of Dutch Golden Age painters.