Hagar Sent into the Wildnerness

Art Historical Context

**Hagar Sent into the Wilderness (1758) is a collaborative print by Italian artists Giuseppe Zocchi, Francesco Bartolozzi, and Wagner, housed in the Metropolitan Museum of's Drawings and Prints department Depicting a pivotal biblical scene from Genesis, portrays Hagar and her son Ishmael cast out into the desert by Abraham and Sarah,oking themes of exile, divine providence, and human vulnerability. Zocchi, known for his lively Rococo scenes of Florence, likely provided the original design, while master engravers Bartolozzi Wagner translated it into intricate lines, capturing the emotional drama of the moment. Crafted through engraving and etching—techniques that allowed for precise tonal effects and widespread reproduction—this large-scale print (sheet: 22⅝ × 15⅞ in.) exemplifies 18th-century printmaking's role in democratizing art. Etching's fluid lines paired with engraving's sharp details create a dynamic composition, blending dramatic lighting and expressive figures typical of the period's grand manner style. Acquired through The Elisha Whittelsey Collection in 1966, this work highlights how prints bridged elite painting and popular devotion, making sacred narratives accessible to 18th-century audiences across Europe. A testament to artistic teamwork, it invites visitors to ponder resilience amid adversity.

About the Artist

Francesco Bartolozzi|Giuseppe Zocchi|Joseph Wagner · 1727–1815

Francesco Bartolozzi (1727–1815) was an Italian engraver whose most productive period was spent in London, where he became the leading exponent of stipple engraving and a founding member of the Royal Academy. Born in Florence and trained first as a painter before turning to engraving in Venice, he established his reputation in Rome before being recruited by the English Royal Librarian Richard Dalt...