Scenes from the Life of Abraham
Roundel
1530s (made)
1530s (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Three independent but related scenes occur in this roundel, which relates the life of the Old Testament patriarch Abraham.
God appears in the centre to the sleeping Abraham. In the background on the right, they are talking of the covenant that God will establish with the Children of Israel. God promises Abraham that he will be the father of many nations.
In the left background, the covenant is sealed with the act of circumcision. Abraham is about to circumcise his eight-year-old son Ishmael, the son of his mistress Hagar. Sometimes this scene is portrayed with Abraham circumcising the infant Isaac, the son of his wife Sarah.
In Christian teaching, baptism in Christ replaces the act of circumcision.
God appears in the centre to the sleeping Abraham. In the background on the right, they are talking of the covenant that God will establish with the Children of Israel. God promises Abraham that he will be the father of many nations.
In the left background, the covenant is sealed with the act of circumcision. Abraham is about to circumcise his eight-year-old son Ishmael, the son of his mistress Hagar. Sometimes this scene is portrayed with Abraham circumcising the infant Isaac, the son of his wife Sarah.
In Christian teaching, baptism in Christ replaces the act of circumcision.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Scenes from the Life of Abraham (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Stained glass with painted details |
| Brief description | Stained and painted glass roundel depicting three scenes from the Life of Abraham. Made in the Netherlands, early 16th century. |
| Physical description | A composite picture representing three separate scenes in the life of Abraham. One scene shows the Institution of Circumcision, Abraham is in the act of circumcising his son Ishmael; this scene is represented within an architectural setting in the back left of the roundel. Another scene, in the right background, shows God appearing to Abraham and talking with him. The last scene takes place in the centre foreground and shows Abraham lying on the ground before God. These latter two scenes illustrate the establishment of the covenant between God and Abraham. The whole is executed in silver stain and brown/black pigment on clear glass. |
| Dimensions |
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| Gallery label | SCENES FROM THE LIFE OF ABRAHAM
On the right, Abraham is shown prostrate before God; on the left is the covenant of circumcision, where Abraham takes his son Ismael and other male children of his household to be circumcised (Genesis 17).
Netherlands (Amsterdam), about 1520-25; probably by Jacob Cornelisz van Oostsanen
Museum no. C.122-1924((PW) 2003) |
| Credit line | Purchased with funds from the Murray Bequest |
| Historical context | Abraham, Old Testament Patriarch, is seen as the source of the relationship between the children of Israel and God (Jehovah). In the Gospel of Matthew, New Testament, Christ's lineage is traced back to Abraham. Circumcision was given by God to Abraham as a sign of the covenant between them. In the early Christian Church, leaders such as Paul discouraged the practice of circumsion. With the coming of Christ, salvation was through his law and no longer by the laws handed down to Abraham. Baptism in Christ replaces the act of circumcision in Christian thought. Three independent but related scenes occur in this roundel relating the life of the Old Testament Patriarch Abraham. God appears in the centre to the sleeping Abraham. In the background on the right, God and Abraham are talking of the establishment of the covenant between God and the children of Israel. Abraham is promised that he will be father to many nations. In the left background, the covenant is sealed with the act of circumcision. Abraham is about to circumcise his 8 year-old son Ishmael. Sometimes this scene is portrayed with Abraham circumcising his infant son Isaac. Ishmael was the son of his mistress Hagar. In Christian teaching, baptism in Christ replaces the act of circumcision. |
| Production | After an drawing by Jacob Cornelisz |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Literary references |
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| Summary | Three independent but related scenes occur in this roundel, which relates the life of the Old Testament patriarch Abraham. God appears in the centre to the sleeping Abraham. In the background on the right, they are talking of the covenant that God will establish with the Children of Israel. God promises Abraham that he will be the father of many nations. In the left background, the covenant is sealed with the act of circumcision. Abraham is about to circumcise his eight-year-old son Ishmael, the son of his mistress Hagar. Sometimes this scene is portrayed with Abraham circumcising the infant Isaac, the son of his wife Sarah. In Christian teaching, baptism in Christ replaces the act of circumcision. |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | C.122-1924 |
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| Record created | June 16, 1999 |
| Record URL |
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