Description
The Sacrifice of Isaac , painted around 1603 for Maffeo Barberini, depicts the moment when an angel prevents Abraham from sacrificing his son Isaac. Abraham holds the boy down while wielding the knife, but the angel firmly grasps his wrist and points towards the ram that is to be sacrificed instead. Caravaggio transforms divine intervention into an intensely physical action performed by figures of striking human presence.
Isaac's terrified expression and the tension of Abraham's arms contrast with the angel's determination. In the background, an extensive illuminated landscape opens up, an unusual feature in Caravaggio's mature work. The combination of restrained violence, precise gestures, naturalism and light gives the biblical episode extraordinary immediacy. The centre of the painting is an interruption.
