1613
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Abraham makes the enemies flee who hold his nephew is a 1613 ink by Antonio Tempesta, a Baroque work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This chaotic scene shows a wild battle with tangled bodies and weapons. At the center, a man on horseback raises his sword while others scramble below. The sky is dark, and the ground is littered with fallen figures—some clutching shields, others sprawled in defeat. Every line is sharp, and the whole image feels like a swirl of movement. The artist packed every inch with action, even in the corners where horses and soldiers spill over the edges. This isn’t calm—it’s a frenzy of fighting, with no clear winner yet. Next, check out etching to see how artists like Tempesta carved these dramatic lines.
Antonio Tempesta, also called il Tempestino (1555 – 5 August 1630), was an Italian painter and engraver, whose art acted as a point of connection between Baroque Rome and the culture of Antwerp.
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