Artwork
Abraham banishes Hagar and Ishmael
Abraham banishes Hagar and Ishmael is an oil painting by the Early Baroque Italian artist Sir Godfrey Kneller. It dates from 1670 and is held in the collection of the Bavarian State Painting Collections. Created in 1670, this oil on canvas work portrays a moment from Genesis in which Abraham expels Hagar and their son Ishmael.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The scene functions as an illustration of covenant and sacrifice, emphasizing Abraham’s obedience to God’s command despite personal loss.
The painting depicts the biblical episode in which Abraham sends away Hagar and her son Ishmael after the birth of Isaac, a moment charged with divine promise and human conflict. Kneller’s composition centers on Abraham, who gestures toward the door while a maid prepares to escort Hagar and Ishmael into exile. Hagar’s anguished glance toward the tent conveys maternal distress, while Ishmael’s youthful figure underscores vulnerability.
The scene functions as an illustration of covenant and sacrifice, emphasizing Abraham’s obedience to God’s command despite personal loss. The iconography underscores themes of providence and the fulfillment of prophecy through Isaac, while the banishment of Ishmael prefigures the lineage leading to the New Testament.
Technique & Style
The painting is executed in oil on canvas, measuring 231 cm by 186.5 cm, and depicts the biblical moment of Abraham banishing Hagar and Ishmael. It belongs to the religious art genre and was created in 1670. The work is part of the Bavarian State Painting Collections and has been exhibited in The Old Testament – Stories and Figures.
History & Provenance
Abraham banishes Hagar and Ishmael is an oil painting on canvas dated 1670 and attributed to Sir Godfrey Kneller, with John Smibert also named as an associated artist in the catalogue record. The work entered the Bavarian State Painting Collections and is held at the Alte Pinakothek, where it has been part of the museum's holdings. It was subsequently included in the exhibition "The Old Testament – Stories and Figures."
No information on the original commission, patron, or intermediate ownership before the Bavarian State Painting Collections is documented in the available sources.
The painting is housed in the Bavarian State Painting Collections at the Alte Pinakothek in Munich. It was created in 1670 as an oil on canvas work measuring 231 cm by 186.5 cm. The piece has been exhibited in "The Old Testament – Stories and Figures" exhibition, focusing on the Banishment of Hagar and Ishmael.
Overview
Created in 1670, this oil on canvas work portrays a moment from Genesis in which Abraham expels Hagar and their son Ishmael. The composition centers on a robed figure with a turban, gesturing toward a woman holding a water vessel and a child seated nearby. A dog and a distant landscape complete the scene, lending narrative depth to the biblical episode.
Context
Executed during a period when English patrons favored religious and historical subjects, the painting reflects the Baroque aesthetic imported from Italy to Britain. Knell’s position within the royal court granted him access to sophisticated artistic trends, allowing him to integrate dramatic lighting and narrative composition characteristic of contemporary continental art.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Sir Godfrey Kneller, 1st Baronet (born Gottfried Kniller; 8 August 1646 – 19 October 1723) was a German-born British painter.
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