Three Angels visit Abraham thumbnail 1
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Sacred Silver & Stained Glass, Room 83, The Whiteley Galleries

Three Angels visit Abraham

Panel
ca. 1530-ca. 1540 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Abraham was the first of the patriarchs of the Old Testament and the founder of the Hebrew nation.

The events concerning Abraham took place around 2000 BC. He was married to Sarah, who was unable to conceive a child. One day on the plains of Mamre, Abraham and Sarah were visited by three strangers. Abraham offered them food and drink, as was customary in the Jewish faith. They revealed themselves as angels and said that they brought a message from God that Sarah would become pregnant. She did, and in time gave birth to Isaac. In medieval art the three angels were interpreted as a symbol of the Trinity. Their announcement was viewed as a prefigurement of the Annunciation of the archangel Gabriel to the Virgin Mary.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleThree Angels visit Abraham (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Clear and coloured glass with painted details and yellow (silver) stain.
Brief description
Panel of clear, coloured and flashed glass with painted details and yellow (silver) stain. Depicting Abraham and the Three Angels. Made in France, probably in a workshop in Rouen, Normandy, c.1530-40.
Physical description
Three angels are seated at a table on which are a flagon and a bowl. In the background are trees and buildings. The panel is painted in black, silver-yellow and brown enamel.
Dimensions
  • Sight height: 61.3cm
  • Sight width: 67.3cm
Gallery label
THREE ANGELS VISIT ABRAHAM The scene appears to show the visit of the three angels to Abraham in the valley of Mambre, as recounted in Genesis 18, when Abraham 'laid their meal ready, and stood there beside them in the shade of the trees'. Abraham would presumably have been depicted to the right, possibly with his wife Sara, receiving the news that she was to bear a child. The original location of this panel is not certain, although it was acquired at the same time as two panels on the opposite wall which come from the church of Saint-Nicolas-le-Painteur in Rouen. France (Normandy), about 1530-40 Museum no. 70-1899((PW) 2003)
Object history
Formerly in Craven Cottage in Fulham, now destroyed.
Bought from B. Jarvis.
Summary
Abraham was the first of the patriarchs of the Old Testament and the founder of the Hebrew nation.

The events concerning Abraham took place around 2000 BC. He was married to Sarah, who was unable to conceive a child. One day on the plains of Mamre, Abraham and Sarah were visited by three strangers. Abraham offered them food and drink, as was customary in the Jewish faith. They revealed themselves as angels and said that they brought a message from God that Sarah would become pregnant. She did, and in time gave birth to Isaac. In medieval art the three angels were interpreted as a symbol of the Trinity. Their announcement was viewed as a prefigurement of the Annunciation of the archangel Gabriel to the Virgin Mary.
Bibliographic references
  • T. Faulkner, Historical Account of Fulham, 1813, p.434
  • Bulletin des Amis des Monuments Rouennais, August 1977
Collection
Accession number
70-1899

About this object record

Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.

You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.

Suggest feedback

Record createdJuly 28, 1998
Record URL
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest