God the Father Appearing to Jacob
Castiglione is one the most innovative and technically brilliant draftsman of his time, a claim that is amply demonstrated through this drawing. He often made large compositions by working spontaneously on the paper, mixing different media to create an almost rough appearance that greatly enlivens the scene. Here, supported by angels and surrounded by putti, God appears to Jacob, who kneels on the ground accompanied by his two wives, Leah and Rachel, and two infants. Within this expansive landscape, the artist included a classical temple at right and fragments of architectural elements on the ground at left. They have nothing to do with the narrative scene but help balance the composition visually.
Artwork Details
- Title: God the Father Appearing to Jacob
- Artist: Giovanni Benedetto Castiglione (Il Grechetto) (Italian, Genoa 1609–1664 Mantua)
- Date: ca. 1635–45
- Medium: Brush with colored oil paint and touches of brown ink; paper partly saturated with oil
- Dimensions: 15 3/16 x 20 9/16 in. (38.6 x 52.3 cm)
- Classification: Drawings
- Credit Line: Gift of Robert Lehman, 1965
- Object Number: 65.176
- Curatorial Department: Drawings and Prints
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Giovanni Benedetto Castiglione (Il Grechetto)
ca. 1635–40
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1650–55
Giovanni Benedetto Castiglione (Il Grechetto)
ca. 1647–51
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