Smith, John: A catalogue raisonné of the works of the most eminent Dutch, Flemish, and French painters: in which is included a short biographical notice of the artists, with a copious description of their principal pictures : a statement of the prices at which such pictures have been sold at public sales on the continent and in England; a reference the the galleries and private collections in which a large portion are at present; and the names of the artists by whom they have been engraved; to which is added, a brief notice of the scholars & imitators of the great masters of the above schools (Part 7) (London: Smith and Son, 1836)

THE

WORKS
OF
REMBRANDT VAN RHYN.

SUBJECTS FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT.

1. Abraham offering up his Son Isaac. In the composition
of this subject, the artist has chosen the moment when the
obedient Patriarch was on the point of performing the high
command, recorded in the 22nd chapter of Genesis. The youth
lies bound on a pile of wood, and the aged parent stands on the
farther side of him, with one hand on the lad’s face, and the
other raised to execute the fatal deed; while thus proceeding,
his attention is suddenly arrested by the appearance of an
angel, who has seized his arm, and the sword is falling from
his relaxed fingers.
This capital picture is far from being a satisfactory work
of the master to whom it is attributed; it partakes too much
of the colour and pencilling of his scholar, Eeckhout, mingled
with some masterly touches by Rembrandt. It was formerly
in the Houghton Gallery, and was valued in that collection,
to the Empress of Russia, in 1779, at 300Z. Engraved by
Murphy, and also, in mezzotinto, by Haide.
6ft. 3 in. by 4ft. in.—C.
Now in the Palace of the Hermitage, at St. Petersburgh,
VOL. VII. B