The Thanksgiving of Noah
European Art

The Thanksgiving of Noah
Artwork Details
Artist/Maker
Il Baciccio (Giovanni Battista Gaulli)
Italian, 1639–1709
Italian, 1639–1709
Date
ca. 1700
Medium
Oil on canvas
Accession #
58.30
Dimensions
64 1/2 x 51 1/4 inches
Location
On View - Stent Family Wing, Level 2, Gallery 204
Description
Most likely created as part of a narrative cycle, this painting is one of three versions in which Gaulli represented Noah’s offering to God after the Flood. Gaulli set this scene against a mountainous Italian landscape that recalls his native city, Genoa. His sculptural treatment of drapery and expressive use of color can be seen in the bright robes worn by Noah and his sons. The artist also demonstrated a careful study of anatomy in the bodies of Noah’s three ruddy sons as they lead animals from the ark to the altar.