Isaac Blessing Jacob

Matthias Stom (circa 1600 - after 1652)

Barber Institute of Fine Arts

circa 1635

Stom portrays the psychological tensions of the moment when Rebecca deceives her husband, the blind Isaac, into blessing her favourite son, Jacob, instead of his brother, Esau. Through a subtle range of gestures and expressions Stom communicates Isaac's uncertainty and infirmity, Rebecca's guile and Jacob's fear. The work is heavily influenced by Caravaggio. This work was acquired with the help of the Art Fund grant including a donation from the Matthiesen Foundation in honour of Sir Denis Mahon.

• Medium: oil on canvas
• Dimensions: 136.5 x 182cm
• Art Fund Grant: £100000 ( Total: £485,000)
• ArtFunded in: 1994
• Vendor: Trafalgar Galleries

Provenance

Prince Caracciolo, Naples, and eventually by marrriage in the eighteenth century; to Prince Carafa, Naples; New York, private collection.

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