Jacob's Ladder

Jacob's Ladder

Joseph Wagner

1745

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From the collection of National Gallery of Art

About this work

This painting shows a man sitting on the ground, looking up at three angels climbing a ladder. The man is wearing a tunic and has his head resting on his hand. The angels are dressed in flowing robes and have large wings. They are ascending a ladder that disappears into the clouds. The scene is set against a backdrop of trees and a cloudy sky. The overall mood is one of contemplation and spirituality. The use of light and shadow adds depth and dimension to the painting. The artist's use of etching and engraving techniques creates a sense of texture and detail in the image. For more information on this technique, look up "etching".

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