Hagar in the Desert

Hagar and Ismael in the desert. Hagar was a slave to Sarah, the wife of Abraham who could not bear children. Abraham had a son with Hagar: Ismael. Years later Sarah miraculously did give birth to child, and had Abraham send Hagar and her kid away.

In the desert they soon run out of water. Hagar tells the boy to sit under a bush, in order to get some shadow. God hears the boy cry, and points Hagar to a well.

This is one of the fresco's that Tiepolo made for the bishop's palace in Udine.