The Angel Appears to Elijah

The prophet Elijah is threatened by queen Jezebel, who has already had hundreds of his colleagues killed. The disheartened Elijah withdraws, to fall asleep under a tree, hoping to never wake up again. But a messenger from God wakes him and feeds him.

Ferdinand Bol shows a clearly very tired prophet. For unknown reasons the angel carries no bread but only water. Perhaps Bol thought the gourd that hangs behind the prophet would provide enough food.

The canvas is part of the Leiden Collection, a large collection owned by an American amateur.