The Dismissal of Hagar by Govert Flinck, Genesis 21:8-21, Bible.Gallery
Artwork Description
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.