Elizabeth I Carved and Fully Polychromed Oak Panel Depicting the Sacrifice of Isaac

An outstanding Elizabethan oak panel, deeply carved and retaining its entire original scheme of polychrome decoration, a survival of remarkable rarity. The panel vividly depicts the dramatic biblical episode of Abraham’s obedience in preparing to sacrifice his son Isaac (Genesis 22:1–13). Abraham stands centrally, knife raised, while Isaac kneels in prayer upon the altar. The divine intervention is shown in the angel descending from heaven to stay Abraham’s hand, and the ram caught in a thicket represents God’s providential substitute. To the left, a flaming urn symbolises ritual sacrifice and divine presence.
The carving is richly highlighted with its original pigments: deep red for Abraham’s robe, green for Isaac’s garment, black detailing, and gilded accents for the ram’s fleece and the angel’s wings. The survival of complete Elizabethan polychromy on oak is exceptionally rare; most panels of this period have lost their surface colour through later stripping or decay. Here, the bold paintwork conveys a striking immediacy, reflecting how such imagery was intended to impress, instruct, and inspire.
Panels of this type were produced for both ecclesiastical and high-status domestic settings in the late 16th century. The subject of Abraham and Isaac was particularly resonant in Protestant England, symbolising faith, obedience, and divine grace. This panel encapsulates the moral and devotional character of Elizabethan religious art, while offering a rare glimpse into the original appearance of Tudor interiors.

Provenance: Private American collection of John Fiske and Lisa Freeman