Rembrandt van Rijn. ‘The Sacrifice of Isaac’ (Rembrandt van Rijn. Opferung Isaaks)

Rembrandt is one of the most sublime geniuses that Holland has ever given to the world. In his paintings he combined the profound psychological analysis with the mastery of a painter based on the play of light and shadow.
In one of the halls of the Old Pinakothek there are several artworks by Rembrandt. Above all, you can see ‘The sacrifice of Isaac’ (1636) in the center of the hall. Next to it is ‘The Holy Family’ (1633). Finally, at the farthest end of the hall, there are several paintings related to the Passion of the Lord.
Now, let us see the ‘Sacrifice of Isaac’ painting. The biblical story is as follows. The Lord decided to check the strength of Abraham’s faith and said to him: 'Take now thy son, thine only son, whom thou lovest, even Isaac, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt-offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of'. Abraham rose early in the morning, and took the wood of the burnt-offering, and laid it upon Isaac his son; and he took in his hand the fire and the knife… Then he bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar, upon the wood. And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son.
And the angel of the Lord called unto him out of heaven, and said: ‘Abraham. Lay not thy hand upon the lad, for now I know that thou art a God-fearing man, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son, from Me… In return I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the seashore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies’. The painting shows the moment when Abraham, about to sacrifice his son Isaac in obedience to God's command, is stopped by an angel.