Forest Landscape with Hagar and the Angel

In the early sixteenth century, the categories of landscape, still life, and genre were established. These soon developed into various image types such as forest landscapes, in which massive trees determined the compositions; they were first introduced in the 1550s. In addition to Pieter Bruegel the Elder, Gillis van Coninxloo was among the early pioneers. The great success of such pictures was reflected in the numerous copies made, such as this pair of pictures. Inv. no. 6328 (no. 11) is a replica of an autograph painting in the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna. In comparison, the foliage in this version is more schematic and less differentiated, while the execution of the plant growth is summary. The staffage, which is taken from the Old Testament, is characteristic and reminiscent of the beginnings when landscape painting developed from history painting. The subject is the story of Hagar, the concubine of Abraham, who was expulsed with her son Ishmael when Sarah gave birth to Isaac, the legitimate son of Abraham. Hagar and Ishmael were saved by an angel, who led them out of the desert.