“The Expulsion of Hagar,” an oil painting on canvas created in 1668 by Claude Lorrain, exemplifies the Classicism movement. Measuring 140 x 107 cm, this religious painting is housed in the Alte Pinakothek in Munich, Germany.
The artwork depicts a poignant biblical scene with an architectural edifice on the left, constructed in a classical style with imposing columns and intricate detailing. Foreground figures illustrate a dramatic moment, as Hagar and her son Ishmael are being expelled, guided and watched over by Abraham. The background displays a serene and expansive landscape bathed in soft, golden light, with vast skies, distant hills, and grazing animals. The composition seamlessly combines narrative and nature, emphasizing tranquility and the grandeur of the natural environment, characteristic of Lorrain’s mastery in integrating human emotion with the sublime beauty of the landscape.
