Artwork
Abraham leaves Haran for Egypt
Abraham leaves Haran for Egypt is an oil painting by the Mannerist artist Francesco Bassano the Younger. It dates from 1588 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Technique & Style
Francesco Bassano the Younger executed Abraham leaves Haran for Egypt in 1576 using oil paint applied to a canvas support. The work measures 95.5 cm in height and 125 cm in width. As a religious painting, the piece employs the artist's characteristic handling of oil on canvas, a medium that facilitated the dynamic compositions typical of the Bassano workshop during this period.
History & Provenance
Historical records and collection data indicate that the painting is held by the Rijksmuseum, where it remains part of the institution's holdings.
Francesco Bassano the Younger executed the religious painting Abraham leaves Haran for Egypt in 1576. The work was created on canvas using oil paint. Historical records and collection data indicate that the painting is held by the Rijksmuseum, where it remains part of the institution's holdings.
No specific details regarding the original commission or intermediate ownership transfers prior to its arrival at the museum are provided in the available documentation.
The painting is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. According to the Wikidata record, its location is listed as the Rijksmuseum, and the work forms part of that institution's holdings as a painting by Francesco Bassano the Younger.
No specific inventory or accession number is provided in the available sources, and no exhibition history is documented.
Overview
In 1588 Francesco Bassano the Younger completed a canvas titled Abraham leaves Harar for Egypt. Executed in the Mannerist idiom, the work presents a biblical episode set within a wooded landscape populated by figures, livestock, and a horse. The composition balances a bustling group of characters with a tranquil atmosphere, rendered in warm hues and gentle chiaroscuro.
Subject & Meaning
The painting portrays Abraham’s departure from Haran, interpreted through a symbolic tableau: a woman on horseback gestures toward a luminous point in the sky, while a lamb rests on the ground beneath a radiant glow. The light may allude to divine guidance or a miraculous event, underscoring the narrative’s spiritual dimension within the everyday setting.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Francesco Bassano the Younger (Italian: Francesco Bassano il Giovane; 26 January 1549 – 4 July 1592), also called Francesco Giambattista da Ponte or Francesco da Ponte the Younger, was an Italian painter of the Renaissance period.
