The Sacrifice of Abraham
1550
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
About the artist
Artist
Italian 16th Century
A 16th-century Italian sculptor left us small bronze works in dark brown and gold.
See the richer artist page1550
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
The Sacrifice of Abraham is a 1550 ink by Italian 16th Century, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This image shows a dramatic scene carved in black and gray tones. A man in flowing robes is about to raise a knife over a bound figure—a younger man lying on an altar. The sky above them swirls with clouds, and a ram stands nearby, its head turned toward the action. The figures are twisted in tension, their muscles and fabric sharply defined. The artist used deep shadows and bold contrasts to make the scene feel urgent. This kind of printing, where light and dark create depth, is called *chiaroscuro*—common in Renaissance art. Next, look up the technique: woodcut to see how this print was made.
A 16th-century Italian sculptor left us small bronze works in dark brown and gold.
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