Artwork
Abraham escucha las promesas del Señor
Abraham escucha las promesas del Señor is an oil painting by the High Baroque Italian artist Luca Giordano. It dates from 1698 and is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado.
About this work
Technique & Style
The work is executed in oil on canvas, measuring 66 cm in height by 180 cm in width.
The work is executed in oil on canvas, measuring 66 cm in height by 180 cm in width. It portrays the biblical scene of Abraham listening to divine promises, rendered in Giordano's characteristic Baroque style with dramatic chiaroscuro and dynamic composition. The painting was created in 1694 and originally belonged to King Ferdinand VII of Spain before entering the collection of the Museo del Prado, where it remains on display.
History & Provenance
Abraham escucha las promesas del Señor was painted in 1694 by Luca Giordano, executed in oil on canvas. The canvas measures 66 centimeters in height and 180 centimeters in width. The work entered the Spanish royal collection and was recorded as owned by Ferdinand VII of Spain.
Today it forms part of the holdings of the Museo del Prado in Madrid, where it remains on display. No specific commission details are provided in the available sources.
Overview
Luca Giordano's 'Abraham escucha las promesas del Señor' (Abraham Listens to the Lord's Promises) is a 1698 oil painting housed at the Museo del Prado. The work captures a pivotal biblical moment with dynamic composition and expressive technique.
Subject & Meaning
The painting illustrates a scene from the Bible where Abraham receives promises from God, surrounded by multiple figures. An elderly Abraham lies in the foreground, while a figure in a blue robe (likely God or an angel) extends a hand. A woman in red (possibly Sarah) gestures in the background, amidst other floating figures, conveying the divine and earthly realms' intersection.
Context
Painted during the Baroque period, 'Abraham escucha las promesas del Señor' reflects the era's emphasis on dramatic lighting and emotionally charged scenes, common in religious art of the time.
Legacy
While specific influences or direct artistic legacies of this work are not detailed, it contributes to the broader understanding of Luca Giordano's contribution to Baroque religious painting.
Artist & collection
Artist
Luca Giordano was an Italian late-Baroque painter and printmaker in etching. Giordano was one of the most celebrated artists of the Neapolitan Baroque, whose vast output included altarpieces, mythological paintings and…
