The Sacrifice of Isaac

fresco by Tiepolo

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July 17, 2026

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The fresco "The Sacrifice of Isaac" by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo, created around 1716, depicts a biblical event from the Book of Genesis. In this story, God commands Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac to test Abraham's faith and obedience. Abraham prepares to carry out the sacrifice, but an angel intervenes at the last moment, sparing Isaac and providing a ram as a substitute. This event is significant in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, symbolizing faith, obedience, and submission. Tiepolo's early work, influenced by chiaroscuro and dramatic feeling, captures the intensity of this moment.123

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Giovanni Battista Tiepolo
Early life
…in his first public work, The Sacrifice of Isaac (1716), for the church of Sta. Maria dei Derelitti, or Ospedaletto. Tiepolo’s name first appears on the lists of the Venetian painters’ guild as an independent painter in 1717. The fact that his studio was thriving at this time is attested…
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…in his first public work, The Sacrifice of Isaac (1716), for the church of Sta. Maria dei Derelitti, or Ospedaletto. Tiepolo’s name first appears on the lists of the Venetian painters’ guild as an independent painter in 1717. The fact that his studio was thriving at this time is attested…
Read More