South German master, second half of the 17th century, The return of Jephtha from the Successful Battle

Against a landscape background and a large palatial building with columns, Jephta in armor riding on a magnificent gray horse, behind whom several soldiers on horseback can be seen. As the leader of the Israelite army, Jephthah had defeated the enemy Ammonites in a very great battle. Before the battle, however, he had sworn that he would dedicate to the Lord what would be the first thing that would come out of his house upon his return. Depicted is the moment when he returns and the first thing he sees is his daughter, his only child. He is deeply sad about this and in pain, as can be seen in the painting, he tears his clothes under the armor in anger and sadness. The soldiers following him look at him in shock. On the left in front of the entrance to the house his daughter in a white robe with a headgear, with three musicians leading the way. While the scenic background on the right side of the picture shows a sunny sky, dark, almost black clouds are already hanging over the tall, palatial building, heralding the impending doom. High-quality fine painting with skilful light and shadow staging
Dimensions:
83 x 102 cm
Medium:
Oil on canvas