Follower of Jacopo da Ponte called Jacopo Bassano (Italian 1510-1592) Jacob's Return to the Land...

Follower of Jacopo da Ponte called Jacopo Bassano (Italian 1510-1592)

Jacob's Return to the Land of Canaan

Oil on canvas

134 x 183cm; 53 x 72in

This lot depicts the biblical story of Jacob returning to Canaan. Jacob tricks his father

Isaac into giving him livestock then runs away to his uncle Laban who becomes his

father-in-law. After fourteen years of labour he returns to Canaan. Here we see Jacob

and his wives Rachel and Leah, returning to Canaan in secret. (Genesis 21: 17-21).

Jacopo Bassano's The Journey of Jacob, part of the Royal Collection acquired by

Charles I, depicts an almost identical setting. Both are early examples of the pastoral

landscape, one of Jacopo's specialities, admired by his contemporaries. Bassano is

known to experiment with styles to suit commissions and The Journey of Jacob has

Mannerist qualities which are typical of his early works, long, sinuous figures arranged

in a decorative and stylised fashion.