Akeidat Yitzchak in Art/0/en

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Akeidat Yitzchak in Art

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Overview

It is not surprising that Akeidat Yitzchak, a story replete with religious significance, emotional turmoil, and dramatic appeal is a favorite subject among artists.  The three renderings shown here, the painting by Caravaggio,1 the mosaic from the Beit Alfa Synagogue2 and the work by of Paolo Veronese3 all depict the climax of the story, when Avraham's sacrifice is interrupted by the angel.  The paintings evoke very different emotions in the viewer as the artists differ greatly in their portrayals of each of the main characters, including Avraham, Yitzchak, the angel and ram.

Contrasting Images

Carravagio Carravagio's painting is the most graphic of the three, filled with both pathos and horror.

Beit Alfa Mosaic

Veronese

Relationship to the Biblical Text

The artists' choices reflect certain ambiguities in the Biblical text and different possible interpretive stances: