Sacrifice of Issac by Michel Fourmentin - Alençon France

This stained glass panel, created in 1555 by Michel Fourmentin for the Basilica of Notre-Dame in Alençon, France, vividly depicts The Sacrifice of Isaac in luminous color and intricate composition. The scene unfolds within the rich, jewel-like tones characteristic of sixteenth-century French glasswork, where deep blues, glowing reds, and radiant golds create both drama and reverence.

At the center of the panel, Abraham stands poised in an anguished moment of obedience. His muscular arm, raised high, grips a sword held above his son Isaac, who kneels before him on the altar. Isaac’s youthful face turns upward, his body tense but submissive, embodying innocence and faith. From above, an angel descends in a burst of divine light, seizing the sword and halting the fatal stroke. The angel’s wings shimmer with ethereal brightness, a vision of mercy that interrupts the human act of sacrifice.

Below and around the central figures, other attendants and observers populate the composition: a servant waiting with a donkey, figures gesturing or turning away in awe, their gestures and faces animated by Fourmentin’s skill in expressive realism. The architecture of the scene is framed by strong verticals of lead and tracery, dividing yet harmonizing the unfolding story.

The light filtering through the glass transforms the narrative into a living vision, making the moment of divine intervention seem immediate and miraculous. Fourmentin’s artistry lies not only in his vibrant color palette but in the emotional tension he captures — the trembling line between faith and fear, command and compassion. In this stained-glass tableau, the ancient story of Abraham’s trial becomes a radiant meditation on obedience, mercy, and the sudden grace of God’s hand staying the blade.