Rembrandt_Abraham and the Three Angels

Rembrandt (1606-1669)

After God had announced to 99-year-old Abraham the birth of a son, whom he was to name Isaac (“he who laughs”; Genesis 17), he appeared to Abraham again, at the oaks of Mamre.

At the hottest part of the day, Abraham was sitting at the entrance to his tent. When he looked up, he suddenly saw three men standing a little way off. He immediately rushed out of the tent to meet them. He bowed deeply and said, "Sir, please do not pass your servant by. I will have some water brought for you to wash your feet, and you can make yourselves comfortable here under the tree. I will also bring you something to eat, so that you can regain your strength before you continue on your way. After all, that is why you have come to your servant, is it not?"

They replied, “We gladly accept your invitation.” Abraham hurried to the tent, to Sarah. “Quick,” he said, “three measures of fine flour! Make dough and bake bread.” Then he hurried to the herd, selected a fine calf that looked tender, and gave it to a servant, who immediately prepared it. He brought butter and milk, took the roasted calf, and set everything before his guests. While they ate, he stood with them under the tree. “Where is your wife?” they asked him. “There in the tent,” he replied. Then one of them said, “I will return to you in exactly one year, and your wife Sarah will have a son.” Sarah, who was standing at the entrance of the tent behind the man, heard this.

Now Abraham and Sarah were old, and the years when a woman is fertile were long behind her. That is why she laughed to herself. Could love still be in store for me? she thought. After all, I am withered, and my husband is also old. Then the LORD asked Abraham, "Why is Sarah laughing, wondering if she can still give birth at her age? Is anything too hard for the LORD?
At the appointed time, exactly one year from now, I will return to you, and Sarah will have a son.“ Startled, Sarah denied it: ”I did not laugh.“ But he said, ”Yes, you did laugh." / GENESIS 18:1-15

Source: Patrick de Rynck

The hospitable Abraham is 99 when this mysterious encounter with God takes place. At an imposing gnarled tree – “by the oaks of Mamre,” says the text – the three visitors have made themselves comfortable at a small table. Abraham will wash the feet of one of the three.

The tent from the Bible has been replaced by a house. This announcement of the birth of Abraham's son Isaac was seen as a foreshadowing of the Annunciation in the New Testament. The three angels were interpreted early on as the Trinity (God the Father, the Holy Spirit, and Christ). This small painting by Rembrandt, which is the size of a print (16.5 x 21.5 cm), was previously little known to the public.

One of the angels is chewing on something. As the laws of hospitality dictate, Abraham had a meal prepared for the visitors.


Rembrandt depicts various moments: the washing of feet, the announcement of Isaac's birth, and the meal.

90-year-old Sara stands in the background in the doorway and watches attentively—smiling?
As a woman, she does not participate in the meal.


The art of viewing
14th–18th century
Patrick de Rijnck

The art of viewing
14th–18th century
Patrick de Rijnck

Photos
wikipedia