Artwork
The blessing of Jacob
The blessing of Jacob is a paint painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Gerrit Willemsz Horst. It dates from 1641 and is held in the collection of the Gemäldegalerie Berlin.
About this work
Overview
The Blessing of Jacob is a 1641 painting by Gerrit Willemsz Horst, a Dutch Golden Age artist. Executed in paint, it is a representative work of the period's religious genre.
Subject & Meaning
The scene depicts an elderly man, likely Isaac, blessing a younger figure, Jacob, in a quiet, intimate setting. The older man's gesture, placing his hand on the younger man's head, conveys a sense of paternal blessing and authority.
Technique & Style
Horst employs chiaroscuro to create a dramatic, dimly lit atmosphere, with strong contrasts between light and dark. The use of this technique, reminiscent of Rembrandt's style, adds depth and emotional intensity to the scene.
History & Provenance
Painted in 1641, The Blessing of Jacob is now held in the Gemäldegalerie Berlin. Horst, a pupil of Antonie Hendricksz Lust and later Rembrandt, created this work during his time as an active painter in the Dutch Golden Age.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Gerrit Willemsz Horst (1612–1652) was a Dutch Golden Age painter from the Dutch Republic.
