Gideon’s Sacrifice

The artistic vocabulary of Ferdinand Bol closely followed the style of his teacher, Rembrandt van Rijn. The influence of his mentor (in the years 1632-1635) is discernible in the manner the scene is composed, the blurred contours, contrasts of light and dark, and the sensitive treatment of the setting’s atmosphere. In later years, Bol’s more delicate handling of the subject, which lacked Rembrandt’s corporality and vigour, manifested a tendency toward a more academic expression.