Abraham Dismissing Hagar and Ishmael

Art Historical Context

In the heart of the Dutch Golden Age, Nicolaes Maes captures a poignant biblical moment in *Abraham Dismissing Hagar and Ishmael* (1653). This oil on canvas painting, measuring 34½ x 27½ inches, depicts the Genesis story where Abraham, urged by Sarah, sends away his concubine Hagar and their son Ishmael into the wilderness. Maes, a promising pupil of Rembrandt, infuses the scene with emotional depth, highlighting the figures tagged in the work—Abraham, the woman (Hagar), and the boy (Ishmael)—in a intimate, human-scale composition that blends history painting with emerging genre influences. Painted at age 22, this work showcases Maes' mastery of oil techniques, employing rich chiaroscuro lighting and textured brushwork to convey tension and pathos. The medium's luminosity allows subtle emotional expressions, from Hagar's presumed sorrow to Ishmael's vulnerability, reflecting 17th-century Dutch interest in moral and familial narratives amid religious tolerance. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's European Paintings department as a gift from Mrs. Edward Brayton in 1971, it exemplifies Maes' early dramatic style before his shift to domestic portraits. This piece invites visitors to ponder themes of faith, exile, and parental sacrifice, bridging ancient scripture with the era's artistic innovation.

About the Artist

Nicolaes Maes · 1634–1693

Maes' genre scenes are his most well-known works although he was also a painter of religious scenes in his early career and a portraitist later in his career. Comment on works: Portraits; Interiors; History