Abraham and Isaac on Their Way to Mount Moriah
c. 1490/1510
Medium
niello print
Dimensions
sheet (trimmed to plate mark): 5.3 x 4.8 cm (2 1/16 x 1 7/8 in.)
Classification
Department
CG-E
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Rosenwald Collection
Accession Number
1943.3.6682
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. Th...