”DISMISSAL OF HAGAR BY ABRAHAM”. MINIATURE. AFTER VAN RIJN, REMBRANDT (LEINDEN, 1606 – AMSTERDAM, 1669). 18TH CENTURY.
Antiques -
Reference: Z6786
“Abraham disowning Hagar.” After model by VAN RIJN, Rembrandt (Leinden, 1606 – Amsterdam, 1669). Framed miniature. 18th century. The scene is set in an idealized landscape. In the foreground, a venerable old man, richly attired (blue tunic, yellow belt, and red ermine-trimmed cloak, with a matching colorful turban), gestures toward a woman who covers her face, thus conveying her sorrow. She is accompanied by a child, his back to the viewer, carrying several bundles and a vessel, suggesting a journey. To the left, in some humble buildings, an elderly woman looks out to observe the scene, smiling, while a young boy does the same, opening a wooden door from which a small dog runs out. It depicts a story from Genesis. The narrative recounts that Sarah agreed to allow Abraham to have children with an Egyptian slave, Hagar, from which union Ishmael was born. However, when Sarah miraculously gave birth to Isaac, Hagar convinced Abraham to expel Sarah and her son. The anecdotal detail of showing Sarah peeking out smiling, the dog, Sarah's sorrow, etc., can also be seen in the painting of the same subject by the Flemish artist Pieter-Jozef Verhaghen (1728-1811), in which Abraham also appears with a red cloak and turban, but the composition and setting differ; in the painting by Jan Victors from around 1635 (Museum of Fine Arts, Budapest), with Sarah and her son smiling; etc. However, some drawings by Rembrandt survive (Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art, Cornell University; this institution has another, probably from the 18th century and anonymous but very similar; and there is another by the artist in the Metropolitan Museum) made in 1637, which follow, almost point by point, the present work except, logically, in the coloring and in the background, where the architecture of the Baroque master is replaced by a landscape.
· Size: 15,x18,5 / 28x30 cms.
4.000 €
