Sacrifice of Isaac - Breedon-on-the-Hill

1897

This panel by Bailley & co. (1904) depicting the Sacrifice of Isaac is part of the east window at Breedon-on-the-Hill Leicestershire, and was donated by Sarah Anne Earp of Staunton Harold Hall in memory of her family (father, mother, and two sons).

The central figure of Abraham , as an elderly man with a white beard, is dressed in a rich red robe with white accents, his arms raised in a gesture of surrender or prayer. Above him, an angelic figure with wings, clad in blue and white, holds a sword or staff, symbolizing the divine intervention that halts the sacrifice. The angel's presence reflects the moment when God provides a ram as a substitute, sparing Isaac. Below Abraham, a kneeling figure in a white robe, likely Isaac, bows in reverence or submission, his head bowed and hands clasped. The background features a landscape with green hills, blue skies, and stylized trees, enhancing the narrative setting.

In the lower section, shows the Breedon-on-the-Hill church as small stone tower or church on a hill, surrounded by greenery and a single tree, depicted in muted green and blue tones, . Below this, the inscription "UNTO THE HILLS FROM WHENCE" (part of Psalm 121:1) ties the scene to a theme of divine help, resonating with the story's message of faith and providence.

The window's vibrant colors, reds, blues, and greens, along with silver staining, reflect Victorian-era craftsmanship and the typological significance often found in church glass, linking Old Testament events to Christian theology.