INTAIL On agate depicting the Sacrifice of Abraham... Lot 28

INTAIL On agate depicting the Sacrifice of Abraham (Gen.22,1-18). The scene features a central, middle-aged middle-aged male figure, Abraham, standing, wearing a long tunic, his body facing front and his face in profile to the left. In his right hand, he holds a short sword, while with his left hand hand he holds his son Isaac to the ground. At his left feet, a ram. Base line. This iconography is of great importance in the development of faith in the early Christian Like Christ, Isaac was an only son, loved by his father and ready to be sacrificed. In both cases, the place of sacrifice was the summit of a mountain. Signa Isaac sibi vexit, Christus sibi patibulum crucis portavit. the thorns of the bush in which the ram was caught represented the thorns of Christ. Such an important scene for the Church has therefore had numerous representations in Christian art on many monuments; frescoes, mosaics, sarcophagi, glasses, gems and lamps. In this case, the composition of the scene is reminiscent of the "Hellenistic type", characterized by a simple, uncluttered representation found on Roman sarcophagi. In this case, Abraham is dressed in a simple tunic and pallium. He is bearded, holding the knife in his right hand, while his left holds Isaac's head, kneeling on the ground. Frequently, the hand of God is introduced, in this case Abraham turns his head towards it (cf. Lateran sarcophagus from the Lucina cemetery, no. 59), and the invariable presence of the ram. This type of representation originated in the catacombs of Rome, and would correspond to the Western version of the "Hellenistic type". 28 x 37 x 4 mm Late Roman art, 4th century. For a similar iconography Marble sarcophagus depicting the Sacrifice of Abraham, Museum Archaeological Museum, Cordoba, Spain; marble sarcophagus of Junius Bassus bearing the date 359, St. Peter's, Musei Vatican; Byzantine mosaic from the Basilica of San Vitale, Ravenna, Italy. Provenance: French private collection, established 1980-1990. A late Roman large agate intaglio depicting the Sacrifice of Abraham. The scene consists of a middle-aged central male figure,Abraham, standing, dressed in a long tunic, the body infront and the face inprofile c. left. In his right hand he holds a short sword, while in his left hand he holds his son Isaac down. At his feet on the left a ram. Baseline.This iconography has great importance in the elaboration of faith in early Christian times; like Christ, Isaac was an only son loved by his father, andready to be sacrificed. Inboth cases, the place of sacrifice was the top of amountain. Signed Isaac sibi vexit, Christus sibi patibulum crucis portavit. The thorns of the bush in which the ramwas caught represented the thorns of Christ. A scene so important for the Church has therefore hadmany representations in Christian art onmany monuments ; frescoes, mosaics, sarcophagi, glasses, gems and lamps. In the present case, the composition of the scene is to be compared to the "Hellenistic type" characterized by a simple and refined representation that is found in particular on Roman sarcophagi. In this case, Abrahamis dressed in a simple tunic and the pallium. He is bearded, holding the knife in his right hand, while the left hold Isaac's head, kneeling on the ground. Frequently, the hand of God is introduced, in this case, Abraham turns his head towards it (cf. Lateran sarcophagus of the cemetery of Lucina, n°59), and the invariable presence of the ram. This type of representation finds its origin in the catacombs of Rome, and would correspond to the Western version of the "Hellenistic type". 4th century A.D.