Sacrifice of Isaac (recto); Figure Sketches (verso) n.d.

This is Domenico Piola’s chalk drawing, "Sacrifice of Isaac," made in the 17th century. Piola was working in a baroque Genoese style amidst the tense politics of Counter-Reformation Europe. Here, Abraham is caught in the dramatic moment before sacrificing his son, Isaac, his arm raised, stopped by an angel. The composition, with its figures frozen in an emotional climax, draws viewers into a moment rife with conflict. Isaac cowers, caught between faith and fear. Abraham appears as a man wrestling with divine will. The scene encapsulates the historical conflicts of religious and political power. It offers a stark narrative on obedience and sacrifice, asking us to consider the personal cost of adhering to higher authority. Piola masterfully blends the personal anguish of his subjects with the grand narratives of religious history, creating a powerful commentary on faith, power, and the individual.