Jacob Blessing the Sons of Joseph (Rembrandt)
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Jacob Blessing the Sons of Joseph | |
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Artist | Rembrandt |
Year | 1656 |
Medium | Oil on canvas |
Dimensions | 173 cm × 209 cm (68 in × 82 in) |
Location | Schloss Wilhelmshöhe, Kassel, Hesse, Germany |
Jacob Blessing the Sons of Joseph is a 1656 oil painting by Dutch artist Rembrandt van Rijn. It is said to have almost “a sculptural surface with a translucent glaze over paint”.[1] This piece is housed in the Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister in Kassel, Germany.[2]
History
The painting was commissioned by the Amsterdam patrician
Background
Jacob Blessing the Sons of Joseph shows a scene from the
Asenath
Asenath was the daughter of an Egyptian priest. According to chapter 41 in the book of Genesis, she was given to Joseph by the pharaoh, himself. The purpose of adding Asenath to the painting is because it having been commissioned by the Amsterdam patrician Willem Schrijver, It shows him with his wife Wendela de Graeff and their children as biblical figures.".[5]
Artistic qualities
Rembrandt is famous for his use of light and shadow (Chiaroscuro) and Jacob Blessing the Sons of Joseph is not an exception.[6] This draws attention to the main characters of Jacob, Joseph, Ephraim, Manasseh, and Asenath while obscuring the background. In particular, there seems to be a halo surrounding Ephraim as he is being blessed. Also notable is the prominent colors that Rembrandt used. The yellows, browns, and reds give the painting a mood that is “both intimate and sacred, tender and solemn”.[7]
See also
References
- ^ "Crawford, Amy An Interview with Stephanie Dickey, author of Rembrandt at 400 Smithsonian Magazine, December 1, 2006 Retrieved 2012-01-27". Smithsonianmag.com. Retrieved 2012-12-04.
- ^ "Online-Database of Old Master Paintings in Kassel. Retrieved 2016-01-21". Museum-kassel.de. Retrieved 2016-01-21.
- ^ "Bible Gateway, Genesis 48". Biblegateway.com. Retrieved 2012-12-04.
- ^ "Art and the Bible". Artbible.info. Retrieved 2012-12-04.
- ^ Jamie Buettner (2011-10-03). "Family Benediction: The Role of Asenath in Rembrandt's Jacob Blessing the Sons of Joseph" (PDF). Retrieved 2018-07-20.
- ^ "Bertman, Sandra L. Jacob Blessing the Sons of Joseph Literature Arts and Medicine Database, NYU School of Medicine, updated June 29, 2006. Retrieved 2012-01-27". Litmed.med.nyu.edu. 1999-05-03. Retrieved 2012-12-04.
- ^ "Krén, Emil Jacob Blessing the Children of Joseph, Web Gallery of Art. Retrieved 2012-01-27". Wga.hu. Retrieved 2012-12-04.