Landscape with Abraham and Isaac approaching the Place of Sacrifice

Artist: Gaspard Dughet (French, 1615 - 1675)

Original Dimensions: 59 7/8" x 76 7/8"

Location: National Gallery of Art, London

About Artwork: (About 1665) "In the Book of Genesis, God orders Abraham to sacrifice Isaac, his only son, on one of the mountains in the land of Moriah (near Jerusalem). This painting shows them walking on a path towards woodland on the third day of their journey as they approach the place of sacrifice. Isaac struggles under the weight of the wooden log on which he will unknowingly be sacrificed, and Abraham follows him holding a burning torch. This sombre story is set in a tranquil landscape inspired by the countryside around Rome, where Dughet spent most of his career. While the background is bathed in the soft light of sunrise, most of the foreground is in deep shadow. Areas of dappled light create subtle variations in the green and yellow tones, suggesting the different types of plant and tree. The trees to the left and right and the sloping foreground frame the scene and draw our eye into the distance." - (National Gallery of Art, London)