ANTWERP, FIRST HALF 17TH CENTURY

Details

A FLEMISH BIBLICAL TAPESTRY
ANTWERP, FIRST HALF 17TH CENTURY
Woven in wools and silks, depicting to the centre Jacob wrestling the angel by the shores of the river Jabbok before a rocky mountain with a town perched on the top, within picture frame borders with a central cabochon cartouche, flanked by eagles seated within a laurel-wreath suspending a martial trophy and with a garlanded figure of Victory and Wisdom, supported by two caryatid supports, reweaving and patching
8 ft. 11 in. x 9 ft. 9 in. (271 cm. x 302 cm.)

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Lot Essay

On returning to Hebron, Jacob came to the river Jabbok, a tributary of the Jordan. After he had sent his caravan across, he was left alone and a man, in reality an archangel, wrestled him there till daybreak. Unable to prevail the archangel touched the hollow of Jacob's thigh who then withered. Jacob demanded to be blessed before letting the man leave and he did by saying 'your name shall no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you strove with God and with men, and prevailed'. The scene represents the Christian spiritual struggle on earth.

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