1754
unspecified
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
Dominant colour
Abraham Welcoming the Three Angels is a 1754 unspecified by Francesco Guardi, a Rococo painting work, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.
Three angels float above Abraham in a rocky glade. He kneels on the ground, arms outstretched. A woman peeks from a grand marble porch behind him. Guardi paints the scene like a quiet stage set. The angels glow against a warm, dusty sky. The porch looks real, but the moment feels dreamy. See how he lights the scene. Hint: try looking up chiaroscuro.
Three of the four pictures in the series depict episodes from the life of the Old Testament figure of Abraham, beginning with the angels appearing to Abraham. According to Genesis 18, Abraham met three men at midday, and, recognizing that they were angels, humbly bowed down to them with his face touching the ground. The encounter incongruously takes place before a marble, classical portico in which a woman lurks, presumably his wife Sarah.
Read the full account in the museum source.
Francesco Lazzaro Guardi (Italian pronunciation: ; 5 October 1712 – 1 January 1793) was an Italian painter, nobleman, and a member of the Venetian School.
See the richer artist page
