Bassano, Jacopo

Noah's Sacrifice

c. 1574 Oil on canvas Staatliche Schlösser und Gärten, Potsdam-Sanssouci

This work is typical of Bassano's mature painting. The painter uses the biblical episode of Noah coming out of the ark to paint yet again a huge number of animals. This type of composition, where the subject is obviously only an excuse for painting the countryside and nature, especially animals, was a huge success in the art market of the day. Jacopo Bassano and his sons continued to produce many such scenes.