Abraham and Isaac on Their Way to Mount Moriah

Art Historical Context

This delicate niello print captures a poignant moment from the biblical story of Abraham and Isaac, as father and son journey toward Mount Moriah for the commanded sacrifice. Created around 1490–1510 by the Italian artist Peregrino da Cesena, the tiny work measures just over two inches square, inviting intimate viewing. The scene reflects the Renaissance fascination with Old Testament narratives that emphasized faith, obedience, and divine testing. Niello prints produced by engraving designs into metal plates and filling the lines with a black sulfur alloy then taking impressions on paper. This labor-intensive technique flourished in late-fifteenth-century Italy, often yielding small devotional images or designs for jewelry and metalwork. Peregrino’s refined line work demonstrates the precision required for the medium, resulting in crisp contrasts that remain striking despite the print’s modest scale. Housed in the National Gallery of Art’s Rosenwald Collection, the print exemplifies how Renaissance artists adapted sophisticated metalworking skills to create accessible religious imagery for personal contemplation. Its survival offers modern viewers a rare glimpse into the intimate devotional practices of the period.