Abraham gives food to his three strange guests. Stipple engraving by G.S Facius and J.G. Facius, 1781, after B.E. Murillo.

  • Murillo, Bartolomé Esteban, 1617-1682.
Date:
1 February 1781
Reference:
20834i
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Description

Bible. O.T. Genesis 18. Sarah watches the incident from a distance. A bowl for foot washing sits by the table. The angels are simply specified as "men" in the King James version of Genesis 18. Abraham bids them wash their feet and rest under the tree. Réau points out that the scene had three different interpretations: typologically, the angels symbolised the Trinity and their announcement prefigured the Annunciation; and then, in the Counter Reformation the scene began to serve as an iconic example of hospitality to strangers

Publication/Creation

London (Cheapside) : John Boydell excudit, 1 February 1781.

Physical description

1 print : stipple engraving, with etching

Lettering

Bartho. Murillo pinxit. G.S. & J.G. Facius sculpserunt.

References note

Louis Réau, Iconographie de l'art chrétien, Paris: Presses Universitaires de France, 1956, vol. 2, p. 131

Reference

Wellcome Collection 20834i

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