Hagar and Ishmael in the Wilderness (Genesis 21.17)
1649
oil
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
1649
oil
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
This painting depicts a woman and a child in a wilderness setting. The woman, dressed in a yellow top and red skirt, sits on a rock, looking up at an angel. The child, wearing a red garment, lies on the ground beside her. The angel, with large wings, reaches out to touch the child's hand. In the background, a dark, rocky landscape stretches out, with a few trees visible in the distance. The overall atmosphere of the painting is one of serenity and contemplation. The use of chiaroscuro, a technique that uses strong contrasts between light and dark to create a sense of volume and depth, adds to the dramatic effect of the scene. The artist, Pier Francesco Mola, was known for his use of this technique, which was popular during the Baroque period.
