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.
The Philistines cut off Saul's head to offer it to their God (16th Century)
Bibliothèque municipale, Lyon
Burnt offerings in the Temple of Jerusalem from within the Court of the Levites (1660)
from: plate from the 'Restoration' Bible 2 vols., published by John Ogilby, Cambridge, 1660
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Iefté, Principe del pueblo ysraelitico [...] [1580 - 1583]
Bibliothèque National de France, Paris
Noah preparing his first sacrifice after the Flood (1700-1760)
Wellcome Collection, London
The Sacrifice of Isaac (calco ottocentesco della formella originale) (1421)
from: Basilica di San Petronio, Bologna
Accademia di Belle Arti di Bologna
The Sacrifice of Isaac (1348)
from: Mahzor
Darmstadt | Universitäts- und Landesbibliothek Darmstadt, Cod. Or 13, fol. 202
The Sacrifice of Isaac [1590 - 1637]
Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam
Sacrifice of Isaac, with captions in Ashkenazi square script. Isaac is kneeling on the altar, Abraham is lifting the knife, but an angel prevents him from hurting his son by grabbing his knife. The same angel points to the ram caught in a bush on the left. Beneath, at the foot of the mountain, the two servants, the donkey and a dog are resting in a field (1460)
from: Add. MS 14759 fol. 1v
British Library, London
The Sacrifice of Isaac [1625 - 1626]
Palazzo Brera, Milan
Noah offering a sacrifice to God after the Flood (1675)
from: Athanasius Kircher, Arca Noë, in tres libros digesta, Amsterdam 1683, p. 166
Idolatry of Jeroboam (1780)
from: Flavius Josephus. Alle de werken van Flavius Josephus, naar het Grieksch in 't Engelsch gebragt en verkort, waar by gevoegd is: de twee boeken van Josephus tegens Appion; zyn Richtsnor der Reden, of het martelaarschap der Macchabeen, en 't gezantschap van Philo den Jood aan den keizer Cajus Caligula. Uit het Engelsch in het Nederduitsch vertaald. Eerste deel, Amserdam, J. van Gulik, 1780, p. 300
Rijksmuseum Amsterdam
The Binding of Isaac (1780)
Narodni Muzej Srbije, Belgrade
Sacrum pingue dabo et macrum sacrificabo (typographical mark) (1579)
from: Catherine Des Roches; Madeleine Des Roches, Les Oeuvres de mes-dames Des Roches de Poetiers, mere & fille, Paris, Abel l'Angelier, 1579
Sacrum pingue dabo et macrum sacrificabo (typographical mark) (1580)
from: Philippe de Commynes, Les memoires de Messire Philippe de Commines, Chevalier, Seigneur d'Argenton, sur les principaux faicts & gestes de Louis onziesme & de Charles huictiesme son filz roys de France, Paris, Abel L'Angelier, 1580
(1729)
Philadelphia Museum of Art
King Jeroboam Making Sacrifice to the Golden Calf (17 - 18)
Staten Museum for Kunst, Copenhagen
The Sacrifice of Manoah (1640 - 1650)
Musée des Augustins, Toulouse
The death of Samson; pushing two columns of the Philistine temple; a large number of Philistines falling from or being crushed by the collapsing building (1550)
from: Probably an illustration to Hans Lufft's High German Bible, printed in Wittenberg, 1550
The British Museum, London