Artwork
The meeting of Jacob and Esau
The meeting of Jacob and Esau is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Jacob Hogers. It is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Technique & Style
The work measures 160 cm in height and 229 cm in width, presenting a substantial horizontal format typical for narrative scenes of this period.
Executed in 1655, this religious painting by Jacob Hogers utilizes oil paint applied to a canvas support. The work measures 160 cm in height and 229 cm in width, presenting a substantial horizontal format typical for narrative scenes of this period. As a piece classified within the religious genre, the composition depicts the biblical reconciliation of Jacob and Esau.
The combination of oil medium and canvas allows for the layered application characteristic of seventeenth-century Dutch painting techniques, though specific details regarding surface condition or handling history are not extensively documented in the available records beyond its material constitution.
History & Provenance
The work titled The meeting of Jacob and Esau was painted by Jacob Hogers in 1655 using oil on canvas. It measures 160 cm in height and 229 cm in width. The painting entered the collection of Adriaan Justus Enschedé before being acquired by the Rijksmuseum, where it remains on display. The subject depicts the biblical reconciliation between Jacob and Esau.
The artwork is classified as religious painting and was created as part of a biblical narrative series.
The work was executed in 1655 and is catalogued in the Rijksmuseum collection.
The painting's provenance traces from its creation to ownership by Adriaan Justus Enschedé, followed by its acquisition by the Rijksmuseum.
The work was commissioned as a religious piece and reflects the Reconciliation of Jacob with Esau as its main subject.
The painting is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, where it is on location. According to the associated Wikidata record, the work was owned by Adriaan Justus Enschedé before entering the museum's holdings. The canvas measures 160 cm in height by 229 cm in width and is executed in oil paint. The sources do not provide a specific accession number or details of any exhibition history.
Overview
The Meeting of Jacob and Esau is a 17th-century religious oil painting created by Jacob Jordaens in 1655, currently part of the Rijksmuseum's collection.
Subject & Meaning
Depicting a pivotal biblical moment, the painting shows Jacob and Esau's reunion. Jacob kneels in a distinctive red robe, embraced by the standing Esau, surrounded by a concerned group, including women with infants, and somber onlookers. The emotional intensity between the brothers is palpable.
Context
Set against a backdrop of ruin and looming military presence (evidenced by soldiers on horseback), the painting may allude to the broader themes of reconciliation amidst turmoil, characteristic of 17th-century Dutch religious art's tendency to embed biblical narratives within contemporary contexts.
Legacy
While specific influences or notable exhibitions of 'The Meeting of Jacob and Esau' are not highlighted, its use of chiaroscuro and emotional depth contributes to the broader appreciation of Baroque painting techniques in religious art.
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Artist & collection
