Columban - Calendar Art Guide - October 2015

The Sacrifice of Isaac (detail)by Domenichino (Domenico Zampieri) (1627-1628)

The story we read in Genesis of the so-called sacrifice of Isaac exerts an enduring fascination. Domenichino’s account of the disturbing narrative highlights the dramatic moment when an angel thwarts Abraham’s attempt to fulfil God’s command to sacrifice his beloved son, Isaac. The angel gestures downward toward the substitute sacrifice, the ram caught in a thicket. Nearby on the other side of Abraham, Isaac looks upward in acknowledgement of his deliverance. Abraham fills the picture to such an extent that his agitated figure dominates all those around him, and most poignantly his trusting son, Isaac. Against the background of a tranquil landscape, Abraham’s swirling draperies and commanding gesture reinforce our sense
of horror and disbelief. Abraham’s outspread arms convey both amazement and gratitude that his obedience to God has ended with such a dramatic confirmation of God’s reward for fidelity.

The Columban Calendar is well known for its traditional religious paintings and liturgical information. The first Calendar was produced in 1923, the year Vegemite hit Victorian tastebuds. The iconic calendar has become a feature in homes to generations of Australians and New Zealanders and is a major fundraiser for St Columbans Mission Society.

The 2015 Art Guide explanations have been compiled by Claire Renkin, well-known art historian and lecturer at Yarra Theological Union and narrated by Geraldine Doogue, Australian journalist and radio and television host.

Watch the full 2015 Columban Calendar - Art Guide - http://www.columban.org.au/2015artguide

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