Jacob Wrestling with the Angel

Bartholomeus Breenbergh (signed by artist), 1639

Almost home, Jacob dreaded the reunion with his brother Esau on the other side of the river. He spent the night on the bank, struggling long and hard with an angel. Jacob finally won the match by daybreak. The angel blessed Jacob and gave him the honorary name of Israel: ‘he who wrestles with God.’ The rosy sky heralding the new day is aptly rendered.

  • Artwork typepainting
  • Object numberSK-A-1724
  • Dimensionssupport: height 48.7 cm x width 68 cm
  • Physical characteristicsoil on panel

Identification

  • Title(s)

    Jacob Wrestling with the Angel

  • Object type

  • Object number

    SK-A-1724

  • Description

    Jacob worstelt met de engel. Langs de weg liggen Jacobs mantel en staf, rechts in de verte een stad.

  • Inscriptions / marks

    signature and date, in ligated monogram, lower right: ‘BB.f.Aº1639’

  • Part of catalogue

Creation

  • Creation

    painter: Bartholomeus Breenbergh (signed by artist)

  • Dating

    1639

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Material and technique

  • Physical description

    oil on panel

  • Dimensions

    support: height 48.7 cm x width 68 cm

This work is about

  • Subject

Acquisition and rights

  • Acquisition

    purchase 1898-01

  • Copyright

    Public domain

  • Provenance

    …; sale, M. du C[harteaux], Paris (P. Remy, J.A. Lebrun), 2 May 1791 _sqq_., no. 35 (‘Un paysage orné de deux figures sur le devant, représentant le combat mystérieux de l’Ange avec Jacob. Hauteur, 18 pouces; largeur, 24 pouces.[48.7 x 65 cm]B[ois]’), 30 livres 4, to the dealer Sollier for Charles Pierre Savalette de Magnanville;{Copy British Museum; letter B.B. Fredericksen, 11 February 2003, RMA.}…; from the dealer J.E. Goedhart, Amsterdam, fl. 150, to the museum, January 1898

Documentation

    • Documentatiemap SK
    • Verslagen omtrent 's Rijks Verzamelingen van Geschiedenis en Kunst XII ( 1889), 's Gravenhage 1891, p. 9
    • Kunstschrift 6 (2000), p. 44
    • W. Stechow, Jahrbuch Berlin 1930, p. 135

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