'The Expulsion of Hagar', antique KPM porcelain plaque

The porcelain plaque is decorated after a painting, 'The Expulsion of Hagar', by 17th Century artist Adrien van der Werff (Dutch, 1659-1722). It depicts a well-known scene from the Book of Genesis in the Old Testament, in which Abraham banishes his concubine Hagar and her son Ishmael after they become involved in a dispute with Abraham's wife, Sarah, and their son Isaac. The plaque shows Abraham casting Hagar and Ishmael out, as Sarah and Isaac watch on. The plaque bears a KPM sceptre mark to the reverse, and is set within a giltwood frame which has been decorated with rocaille, or shell motifs.

Van der Werff's painting, and this plaque, are notable for elaborating an unusual interpretation of the story: that the quarrel was not between the children, but the adults. In the commonly-told Biblical version of the story, Ishmael mocks Isaac at a celebration, which leads to Sarah demanding that Hagar and Ishmael be sent away. In this scene, however, Isaac is shown offering his cloak to Ishmael, and Ishmael is shown turning back not to his father Abraham but to his brother Isaac.

Adriaen van der Werff was an accomplished Dutch painter of portraits and erotic, devotional and mythological scenes.

Plaque: Height 24cm, width 18cm
Frame: Height 53cm, width 50cm, depth 8cm