On-line gallery
- Reference number
- P00022
- Author
- Bassano, Jacopo
- Title
- The Animals Entering the Arc
- Chronology
- Ca. 1570
- Technique
- Óleo
- Support
- Lienzo
- Measures
- 207 cm x 265 cm
- School
- Italiana
- Theme
- Religión
- On display
- Yes
- Procedence
- Colección Real (Palacio Real Nuevo, Madrid, antecámara de su Majestad, 1772, nº 634; Palacio del Buen Retiro, Madrid, 1794, nº 512).
With a beard and red tunic, Noah stands at the center of the composition. With the help of his family, he herds the animals into the arc.
This scene is inspired by the passage of Genesis (1: 7, 2-3) in which, following God's orders, Noah herds a pair of each type of animal into the arc he has built in order to save them from the Great Flood so that they can repopulate the Earth afterwards.
This painting is considered one of Jacopo Bassano's first treatments of Old Testament themes, which would later become the object of different versions painted by his workshop.
This work was bequeathed to Felipe IV (1605-1665) by prince Filiberto de Saboya.
Room 40
