The artwork titled “Hagar Assisted by the Angel,” created by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo around 1732, is an oil painting on canvas that is characteristic of the Rococo art movement. The dimensions of this religious painting are 120 x 140 cm and it is currently located at the Scuola Grande di San Rocco in Venice, Italy.
The artwork depicts a dramatic biblical scene where Hagar, the concubine of Abraham, is assisted by an angel after being cast out into the wilderness with her son, Ishmael. The angel is shown in a compassionate posture, gesturing to Hagar offering divine assistance. Hagar, with a weary expression, gazes upward towards the angel, her body language conveying a sense of desperation and relief. Ishmael lies in her lap, lifeless and vulnerable, accentuating the emotional gravity of the scene. The use of rich, contrasting colors and dynamic composition is characteristic of Tiepolo’s Rococo style, evoking both drama and elegance. The interplay of light and shadow further enhances the ethereal quality of the encounter, emphasizing the divine intervention in this poignant moment.
