Who painted The Sacrifice of the Old Covenant?

The Sacrifice of the Old Covenant was painted by Peter Paul Rubens in 1650-01-01.

Where can I see The Sacrifice of the Old Covenant?

The Sacrifice of the Old Covenant is held by Museum of Fine Arts Boston.

What movement is The Sacrifice of the Old Covenant?

The Sacrifice of the Old Covenant is associated with Flemish Baroque painting.

Can I buy a print of The Sacrifice of the Old Covenant?

Museum-quality prints of The Sacrifice of the Old Covenant are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

The Sacrifice of the Old Covenant

Peter Paul Rubens

The Sacrifice of the Old Covenant is an oil painting by the Flemish Baroque painting artist Peter Paul Rubens. It is held in the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts Boston.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

The work functions as a religious painting that illustrates these theological themes through its specific iconography of the sacrificial offering.

The Sacrifice of the Old Covenant depicts a religious scene centered on the Eucharist in the Catholic Church. The composition features a woman, a lamb, and an altar, elements that collectively represent the concept of sacrifice. This imagery serves as a visual allegory for the Eucharistic sacrifice, linking the Old Covenant's rituals to Christian theology.

The work functions as a religious painting that illustrates these theological themes through its specific iconography of the sacrificial offering.

Technique & Style

The Sacrifice of the Old Covenant is an oil on canvas painting created in 1650. It depicts a religious scene featuring a woman, a lamb and an altar associated with Eucharistic sacrifice. The work measures 70.5 cm in height by 87.6 cm in width and was originally owned by William A. Coolidge and Robert Spencer, 2nd Earl of Sunderland.

Currently it resides in the Museum of Fine Arts Boston as part of their collection of religious artworks.

History & Provenance

Peter Paul Rubens created The Sacrifice of the Old Covenant in 1650. Executed in oil on canvas, the religious work measures 70.5 by 87.6 centimeters. The painting's ownership history includes possession by Robert Spencer, the 2nd Earl of Sunderland, and William A. Coolidge. It currently resides in the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts Boston.

The work is held by the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, where it is registered as accession 39.244. It entered the collection in 1939 through the William A. Coolidge Fund.

It has been exhibited at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, in the Rubens exhibition held in 1936 (cat. no. 13).

Overview

Created circa 1650 by the Flemish painter and diplomat Peter Paul Rubens, The Sacrifice of the Old Covenant is an oil on canvas belonging to the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Executed within the mature phase of Rubens’s Baroque output, the work presents a crowded ceremonial tableau rendered with vigorous movement and a luminous palette characteristic of the period.