# Elijah and the Widow of Zarephath [View the canonical artwork record]() ## Artwork - Artist: [BREENBERGH, Bartholomeus]() - Date: 1601-1650 - Technique: Oil on panel, 28 x 49 cm ## Commentary Elijah and the Widow of Zarephath c. 1630 Oil on panel, 28 x 49 cm Private collection Elijah was a Hebrew prophet, a forceful character who vigorously opposed the cult of Baal among the Israelites. During a prolonged drought Elijah went to dwell by the brook Cherith which still ran. But the brook dried up so Elijah moved on to the city of Zarephath where he met a widow gathering sticks who gave him food and drink. The widow's son was mortally sick so Elijah carried him upstairs where he 'stretched himself upon the child three times' and called upon God. By this means the child was revived \(I Kings 17:8-24\). Breenbergh painted this subject several times. ## Related artworks - [Apostle Thomas]() - [Christ and the Nobleman of Capernaum]() - [Diana and Her Nymphs]() - [Idealised View with Roman Ruins, Sculptures, and a Port]() - [Joseph Selling Wheat to the People]() - [Landscape with the Finding of Moses]() - [Ruins of the City Walls, near Porta S Paolo, Rome]() - [The Finding of Moses]() - [The Preaching of St John the Baptist \(detail\)]() - [The Preaching of St John the Baptist]() ## Attribution [Web Gallery of Art]()