Abraham Welcoming the Three Angels
Medium
oil on canvas
Dimensions
unframed: 56.5 × 75.5 cm · framed: 70.5 × 90.5 × 5.5 cm
Classification
Painting
Department
European Painting and Sculpture
Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Credit
Mr. and Mrs. William H. Marlatt Fund
Accession Number
1952.235.4
Rights
Public Domain
Tags
male
About this artwork
Three of the four pictures in the series depict episodes from the life of the Old Testament figure of Abraham, beginning with the angels appearing to Abraham. According to Genesis 18, Abraham met three men at midday, and, recognizing that they were angels, humbly bowed down to them with his face touching the ground. The encounter incongruously takes place before a marble, classical portico in which a woman lurks, presumably his wife Sarah.