ARTWORKS

A Pagan Sacrifice

Benvenuto Tisi da Garofalo (c.1481–1559)

The National Gallery, London

A Pagan Sacrifice

Image credit: The National Gallery, London

How you can use this image

This image can be used for non-commercial research or private study purposes, and other UK exceptions to copyright permitted to users based in the United Kingdom under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, as amended and revised. Any other type of use will need to be cleared with the rights holder(s).

Review the copyright credit lines that are located underneath the image, as these indicate who manages the copyright (©) within the artwork, and the photographic rights within the image.

The collection that owns the artwork may have more information on their own website about permitted uses and image licensing options.

Review our guidance pages which explain how you can reuse images, how to credit an image and how to find images in the public domain or with a Creative Commons licence available.

Buy a print or image licence

You can purchase this reproduction

If you have any products in your basket we recommend that you complete your purchase from Art UK before you leave our site to avoid losing your purchases.

Order a print

Notes

Add or edit a note on this artwork that only you can see. You can find notes again by going to the ‘Notes’ section of your account.

A young man pours red wine from an amphora onto the goat’s head on the altar; a young woman carries an upside-down torch, while an old woman balances a basket of pears, apples and grapes on her head. For many years the subject of this painting by Garofalo was believed to be a sacrifice of thanksgiving to the gods for the gifts of the fruit-bearing earth. Actually, it represents an ancient funeral.

The painting is based on an illustration that appears in a famous and quite strange antiquarian romance by Francesco Colonna called the Hypnerotomachia Poliphili, published in Venice in 1499. In the part of the book relating to this illustration, Colonna describes the cemetery of those who died for love. All the figures in Garofalo’s painting correspond to those in the woodcut illustration, although none are copied exactly.

The National Gallery, London

London

Read more on The National Gallery, London
Title

A Pagan Sacrifice

Date

1526

Medium

Oil on canvas

Measurements

H 128.3 x W 185.4 cm

Accession number

NG3928

Acquisition method

Mond Bequest, 1924

Work type

Painting

Tags

See a tag that’s incorrect or offensive? Challenge it and notify Art UK.

Help improve Art UK. Tag artworks and verify existing tags by joining the Tagger community.

Learn more Tag this
Normally on display at

The National Gallery, London

Trafalgar Square, London, Greater London WC2N 5DN England

This venue is open to the public. Not all artworks are on display. If you want to see a particular artwork, please contact the venue.
View venue

Artist or maker

Benvenuto Tisi da Garofalo

c.1481–1559

View profile
  • Saint Catherine of Alexandria
    Saint Catherine of Alexandria Glasgow Museums Resource Centre (GMRC)
  • Saint Ursula
    Saint Ursula Glasgow Museums Resource Centre (GMRC)
  • Judith with the Head of Holofernes and Her Maidservant
    Judith with the Head of Holofernes and Her Maidservant National Trust, Knole
  • The Adoration of the Shepherd, with the Annunciation to the Shepherds beyond
    The Adoration of the Shepherd, with the Annunciation to the Shepherds beyond The Fitzwilliam Museum
  • The Holy Family with the Archangel Raphael
    The Holy Family with the Archangel Raphael Mellerstain House
  • Holy Family with the Infant Saint John and Saint Elizabeth
    Holy Family with the Infant Saint John and Saint Elizabeth The Courtauld, London (Samuel Courtauld Trust)
  • Saint Christopher Carrying Infant Jesus across a River
    Saint Christopher Carrying Infant Jesus across a River Canterbury Cathedral
  • 18 more

Topics