The Sacrifice of Isaac

The Sacrifice of Isaac is dated 1754 and is attributed to Francesco Guardi based on internal documentation and the Cleveland Museum of Art’s collection record.

It entered the Cleveland Museum of Art as accession 1952.235.1 in 1952, where it remains in the permanent collection. The painting is recorded as Italian, created in 1754, and classified as a religious work depicting the biblical Binding of Isaac.

The Sacrifice of Isaac by Francesco Guardi (1754) is recognized for its dramatic religious composition and is housed in the Cleveland Museum of Art. The work's subject, the Binding of Isaac, draws from a key biblical narrative that has influenced numerous artists across centuries. Although specific reception details are not documented in the provided sources, the painting's inclusion in a major museum collection underscores its historical significance and continued relevance in art historical discourse.

Francesco Guardi, a Venetian nobleman and painter of the mid‑18th century, executed The Sacrifice of Isaac in 1754 with oil on canvas. The work is part of the Cleveland Museum of Art’s collection and presents a moment drawn from the biblical narrative of Abraham’s test, rendered with the compositional balance typical of Guardi’s early religious output.

At the time of its execution, Guardi was transitioning from collaborative altar pieces toward the cityscapes that would define his reputation. The Sacrifice of Isaac thus represents a bridge between his formative religious work and the atmospheric vistas that followed, illustrating the broader Venetian School’s emphasis on dramatic narrative and luminous color.