Isaac Going Forth to Meditate

George Richmond, RA 1809-1896

c. 1828

Oil on canvas

21 x 13 inches · 53.3 x 33 cm

Source: Samuel Palmer, His Friends, and Followers

[Click on image to enlarge it.]

This is the larger of two known paintings of this subject, the title being suggested by Genesis Chapter CCIV Verse 63: “And Isaac went out, to meditate in the 'eld, at the eventide.” The smaller version, now lost, belonged to Raymond Lister and is illustrated in his monograph on the artist, page 44 no.25. The subject is unusual in that the figure is seen from behind, and it is one of a number of Biblical subjects the artist painted during his Shoreham period. — Gordon Cooke

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