Abraham Entertaining the Angels by Rembrandt van Rijn

Angels (detail) by Rembrandt van Rijn
Rembrandt van Rijn, Abraham Entertaining the Angels (detail), 1656, etching and drypoint, National Gallery of Art, Washington, Rosenwald Collection 1943.3.7160

Abraham, in contrast, responds as a humble servant: he bows his head in acceptance. In the Book of Genesis, the story of Abraham is about faith. God tests him repeatedly, yet Abraham remains faithful.

Sarah and Abraham are psychologically real. We sense their individual personalities—Sarah a skeptic; Abraham constant in his faith.