Topic: 1. Sacrifice and Bible (16th-18th Century)
The Bible, with its plethora of examples of sacrifice and self-sacrifice, plays a pivotal role in shaping the discourse on sacrifice in the early modern world.
This section includes:
- Sources: A broad selection of early modern writings, encompassing biblical exegesis, theological and philosophical interpretations, various translations, prayer books, and hymns.
- Iconographic Representations: This visual collection showcases early modern depictions of biblical sacrifices, including key scenes like the Sacrifice of Isaac as interpreted in Jewish, Christian, and Islamic traditions.
- Related Bibliography: Complemented by a comprehensive bibliography of scholarly works from the 19th to 21st centuries, offering modern perspectives and analyses of these historical interpretations.
Shepherd sacrificing Ram
from: Book of Meshal Ha-Kadmoni (from Germany)
Munich, Bayerische Staatsbibliothek, Cod. hebr. 107 (Steinschneider 1895, No. 107), fol. 24
Cain and Abel Sacrifice (1500 - 1515)
Harvard Art Museums - Fogg Museum, Cambridge
Sacrificio di Isacco [1509 - 1513]
Yale University Art Gallery, New Haven
The Sacrifice of Isaac (1526-1532)
Museo Nacional de Escultura, Valladolid
Angel announcing the Birth of Samson, from the Story of Samson (1560–80)
from: France
New York, The Metropolitan Museum of Art
(1492)
from: Johannn Schönsperger, Speculum humanae salvationis, Augsburg, 1492 (Incunabula), fol. 119v
The Munich DigitiZation Center (MDZ)
Aaron's first offering (1670)
from: La Saincte Bible, Contenant le Vieil and la Nouveau Testament, Enrichie de plusieurs belles figures/Sacra Biblia, nouo et vetere testamento constantia eximiis que sculpturis et imaginibus illustrata, De Limprimerie de Gerard Jollain
Abel Sacrifice (1618)
from: Traicté du feu et du sel. Excellent et rare opuscule du Sieur Blaise de Vigenère, Bourbonnois, trouvé parmy ses papiers après son décès, Paris, Abel Langelier, 1618
Abraham and the Binding of Ishmael (17th Century)
Haft Tanan (Seven Tombs) Mausoleum, Shiraz
Abraham Filium Suum Unigenitum Sacrifecit [1550 - 1600]
Museumsberg Flensburg, Flensburg
Abraham sacrificing his Son Ishmael and Abraham cast into Fire by Nimrod (1583)
from: ms. Zubdat-al Tawarikh
Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts, Istambul
Abraham's Sacrifice (XVII)
Metropolitan Museum, New York
Abraham's sacrifice. This is the sacrifice of Isaac on the altar and the ram caught by its horns (ca 1278-98)
from: North French Hebrew Miscellany [ Add. MS 11639 fol. 521v]
British Library, London
Cain killing Abel, besides Cain and Abel sacrificing (1456)
from: Speculum humanae salvationis, Herzog August Bibliothek, Cod. Guelf. 81.15, fol. 34r
Herzog August Bibliothek, Wolfenbüttel
Cain killing Abel, besides Cain and Abel sacrificing (1466)
from: Speculum humanae salvationis, Bayerische Staatsbibliothek - Xylogr. 37, fol. 33r (Utrecht)
Bayerische Staatsbibliothek, Munich
Cain killing Abel, besides Cain and Abel sacrificing (15th)
from: Speculum humanae salvationis Stiftsbibliothek - Cod. 166, fol. 21r
Neustift bei Brixen (Novacella), Stiftsbibliothek
Cain killing Abel, besides Cain and Abel sacrificing [1370]
from: Speculum humanae salvationis, Bibliothèque nationale de France - Lat. 511, fol. 19r
Bibliothèque Nationale de France, Paris
Cain killing Abel, besides Cain and Abel standing, holding their sacrifices [1420]
from: Speculum humanae salvationis, Prague, Národní Muzeum, III.B.10, fol. 22r
Národní Muzeum, Prague
Dish with sacrifice of Isaac (17th Century)
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
En pater innocuum puerum deducit ad aram en promptus charum est ense ferire caput [1567]
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York