Steadfast Philosopher

The subject is from Genesis XVI, 1-6: Abraham's wife Sarah, having had no children by him, presents him with her Egyptian maid Hagar as a surrogate (cf. Follower of Mola DPG32 and Rubens DPG131). Previously catalogued as Flemish but, as suggested by P. van Thiel the style seems close to Spranger (for example, his Hercules and Omphale in the Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna).