Abraham and Isaac
Group
ca. 1620-1645 (made)
ca. 1620-1645 (made)
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
Abraham, bearded, and wearing a long loincloth, stands with his left hand resting protectively on the back of his young naked son Isaac, standing in front of him. His right arm is bent, and he lifts his hand as if listening to the angel's voice with the message from God telling him not to sacrifice Isaac. Although no knife or firewood is depicted, Abraham's pose and expression suggests he is listening with relief to the angel, in the realization he does not need to kill his son. The style and form of this group strongly suggest it is by the South German sculptor Leonhard Kern, who specialised in ivory. It is likely to date from the mid-17th century.
Kern (1588-1662) trained under his brother Michael Kern (1580-1649) and then spent four years travelling mainly in Rome, Naples and Venice, though he also visited North Africa and Slovenia. Hi figures, often nudes, are distinctive in style, being both monumental and individualistic, inspired by South Netherlandish Sources, such as Rubens, but fusing them with Italianate poses. His female nudes are frequently shown with elaborate coiffures.
Kern (1588-1662) trained under his brother Michael Kern (1580-1649) and then spent four years travelling mainly in Rome, Naples and Venice, though he also visited North Africa and Slovenia. Hi figures, often nudes, are distinctive in style, being both monumental and individualistic, inspired by South Netherlandish Sources, such as Rubens, but fusing them with Italianate poses. His female nudes are frequently shown with elaborate coiffures.
Object details
Categories | |
Object type | |
Title | Abraham and Isaac (generic title) |
Materials and techniques | Carved ivory |
Brief description | Group, ivory, Abraham and Isaac, by Leonhard Kern, German, ca. 1620-1645 |
Physical description | Abraham and Isaac, ivory group. Abraham wearing a full beard, and draped from the waist to the knees, looks upward and to the right. His right arm is raised, while his left is held loosely at his side. The nude Isaac is leaning over, and is partly supported by Abraham's left leg. |
Dimensions |
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Gallery label | ABRAHAM AND ISAAC
South German; around 1600
Ivory
By Leonhard Kern (1588-1663)
The group shows Abraham and his son Isaac on their way to the place of Isaac’s sacrifice according to the account in the Bible, genesis chapter 22, verses 2-3.
(1993 - 2011) |
Credit line | Given by Dr W. L. Hildburgh FSA |
Object history | Given by Dr. W. L. Hildburgh, F. S. A., 1953. |
Subjects depicted | |
Summary | Abraham, bearded, and wearing a long loincloth, stands with his left hand resting protectively on the back of his young naked son Isaac, standing in front of him. His right arm is bent, and he lifts his hand as if listening to the angel's voice with the message from God telling him not to sacrifice Isaac. Although no knife or firewood is depicted, Abraham's pose and expression suggests he is listening with relief to the angel, in the realization he does not need to kill his son. The style and form of this group strongly suggest it is by the South German sculptor Leonhard Kern, who specialised in ivory. It is likely to date from the mid-17th century. Kern (1588-1662) trained under his brother Michael Kern (1580-1649) and then spent four years travelling mainly in Rome, Naples and Venice, though he also visited North Africa and Slovenia. Hi figures, often nudes, are distinctive in style, being both monumental and individualistic, inspired by South Netherlandish Sources, such as Rubens, but fusing them with Italianate poses. His female nudes are frequently shown with elaborate coiffures. |
Bibliographic references |
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Collection | |
Accession number | A.1-1953 |
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Record created | February 25, 2004 |
Record URL |
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