Who painted The Dismissal of Hagar?

Govert Flinck painted The Dismissal of Hagar in 1640.

What Bible passage does The Dismissal of Hagar depict?

The Dismissal of Hagar depicts the biblical scene from Genesis 21:8-21.

Where is The Dismissal of Hagar located?

The Dismissal of Hagar is housed at Gemäldegalerie der Staatlichen Museen, Kulturforum Potsdamer Platz, Berlin.

The Dismissal of Hagar by Govert Flinck

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The heart-wrenching scene unfolds as little Ishmael cries, his tears falling like drops of sorrow, while Abraham bids farewell to him and his mother Hagar. With nothing but a bottle of water and a meager ration of bread, they are sent into the unforgiving desert.

Hagar, once a slave of Sarah, Abraham's wife, had been given to him to bear a child when Sarah was unable to conceive. From this union, Ishmael was born. However, years later, Sarah miraculously gave birth to Isaac, and with her newfound maternal pride, she demanded that Hagar and her son be cast away.

Lost and desperate in the arid expanse, divine intervention comes to their aid. An angel appears and leads them to a life-saving water well, a glimmer of hope amidst their bleak plight.

In this remarkable painting, Govert Flinck skillfully employs the warm style he cultivated as a student of the esteemed Rembrandt. The emotion resonates through the canvas, capturing the pain of separation, the uncertainty of survival, and the glimmer of hope that divine providence can bring.

During the year 1764, this captivating masterpiece found its place in the esteemed collection of Frederick William II of Prussia, where it joined the treasury of old masterpieces, cherished and admired for its artistic brilliance and poignant storytelling.

Details

Artist: Govert Flinck
Created: c. 1640 - 1645
Medium: oil on canvas
Dimension: 139cm × 111cm
Passage: Genesis 21:8-21
Housed at: Gemäldegalerie der Staatlichen Museen Kulturforum Potsdamer Platz, Berlin

Found in: Genesis, Genesis 21, 17th century, Abraham

Genesis 21:8-21

8 The child grew, and was weaned. Abraham made a great feast on the day that Isaac was weaned.

9 Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had borne to Abraham, mocking.

10 Therefore she said to Abraham, “Cast out this servant and her son! For the son of this servant will not be heir with my son, Isaac.”

11 The thing was very grievous in Abraham’s sight on account of his son.

12 God said to Abraham, “Don’t let it be grievous in your sight because of the boy, and because of your servant. In all that Sarah says to you, listen to her voice. For your offspring will be named through Isaac.

13 I will also make a nation of the son of the servant, because he is your child.”

14 Abraham rose up early in the morning, and took bread and a bottle of water, and gave it to Hagar, putting it on her shoulder; and gave her the child, and sent her away. She departed, and wandered in the wilderness of Beersheba.

15 The water in the bottle was spent, and she put the child under one of the shrubs.

16 She went and sat down opposite him, a good way off, about a bow shot away. For she said, “Don’t let me see the death of the child.” She sat over against him, and lifted up her voice, and wept.

17 God heard the voice of the boy. The angel of God called to Hagar out of the sky, and said to her, “What ails you, Hagar? Don’t be afraid. For God has heard the voice of the boy where he is.

18 Get up, lift up the boy, and hold him in your hand. For I will make him a great nation.”

19 God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water. She went, filled the bottle with water, and gave the boy drink.

20 God was with the boy, and he grew. He lived in the wilderness, and became, as he grew up, an archer.

21 He lived in the wilderness of Paran. His mother took a wife for him out of the land of Egypt.

Genesis 21:8-21 · World English Bible

The artist

Govert Flinck

1615 - 1660

Kleve, Netherland

Govert Flinck was apprenticed by his father to a silk mercer, but having secretly acquired a passion for etching and drawing, was sent to Leeuwarden, where he boarded in the house of Lambert Jacobszoon, a Mennonite, better known as an itinerant preacher than as a painter.