Forbidden fruit and its consequences This painting, Sarah Leading Abraham to Hagar by seventeenth century painter Matthias Stom is displayed in the Gimaldegalerie in Berlin. Even a quick look at the figures portrayed by the artist even briefly, conveys something unseemly, even odious. All too evident is the purpose of the intrusion of the elderly woman ushering the very young girl into the bedchambers. I learned of this painting in a most intriguing meditation by Dominican priest, Fr. Anthony Giambrone called Forbidden Fruit and the Fruit of Faith. Far from being aroused, Abraham is withdrawing from the ‘gift’ being offered. […]