The Sacrifice of Noah
Francesco Fernandi (Milan 1679 - Rome 1740)
Category
Art / Oil paintings
Date
circa 1720
Materials
Oil on canvas
Measurements
1372 x 2553 mm (54 x 100 1/2 in)
Place of origin
Italy
Order this imageCollection
Stourhead, Wiltshire
NT 732123
Caption
After leaving the ark, Noah, decides to slaughter a ram, as a thanksgiving. It is being held by one of his sons, whilst they stand beside an altar and Noah gestures heavenwards. Another son is kneeling at his side, and another, in front of the altar with a gold plate beside him. His wives are also kneeling, in prayer. In the distant, he animals can be seen still leaving the ark and a rainbow has appeared in the sky symbolising the covenant between God and earth. Bought as a pair with Rachel sitting on the Household Gods of Laban by the same artist by Henry II Hoare. They were placed in the Picture Gallery built by Richard Colt Hoare at Stourhead and have remained there ever since.
Summary
Oil painting on canvas, The Sacrifice of Noah by Francesco Fernandi called Imperiali (Milan 1679 - Rome 1740), circa 1720. Noah stands in the centre beside an altar with his left hand gesturing heavenwards. One son, wearing a light purple robe, is kneeling at his side, on the left. On the far left a large black and white dog is lying asleep. Another son, wearing a blue robe, is kneeling is in front of the altar in the centre foreground with a gold plate beside him. He is about to slaughter a ram that is being held by another standing, wearing an orange robe, and holding the ram by the neck. There are three kneeling women in prayer on the far right, probably Noah's wives. In the distant background, on the left, the animals can be seen leaving the ark. In the distance, on the right, a rainbow appears in the sky symbolising the covenant between God and earth. A supplicant figure at the left, presumably the fourth wife, is barely discernible (a pair of hands in the air): it may have been painted out and is reappearing as a pentiment along with a lion: the dark animal shape seen from behind, also on the left. The biblical scene depicts the thanksgiving of Noah and is related in the Old Testament book Genesis 8:20-22 & 9:1-17.
Provenance
Acquired by Henry II Hoare (1705-85) and thence by descent;given to the National Trust along with the house, its grounds, and the rest of the contents by Sir Henry Hugh Arthur Hoare, 6th Bt (1865 – 1947) in 1946
Credit line
Stourhead, The Hoare Collection (National Trust)
Makers and roles
Francesco Fernandi (Milan 1679 - Rome 1740), artist