Abraham and Isaac (Titian)
Abraham and Isaac, also called the Sacrifice of Isaac, is a large oil painting by Titian made around 1543–1544. It was painted for the church of Santo Spirito in Venice but today hangs in Santa Maria della Salute. The picture measures 328 cm by 285 cm.
The scene shows God telling Abraham to offer his son Isaac as a sacrifice in Moriah. Just as Abraham is ready to kill Isaac, an angel stops him, and a ram is sacrificed instead as a reward for his faith.
This work is one of three paintings Titian did for the Salute’s sacristy ceiling around the same time, along with Cain and Abel and David and Goliath. They share a dramatic mood, few figures, and a dark, rocky landscape under a cloudy sky, with strong, powerful bodies.
Titian’s use of color in this painting blends earthy tones with bright light to create a vivid, life-like scene. The Santo Spirito treasures were moved to Santa Maria della Salute in the 17th century, where they remain today.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 13:20 (CET).