Lot Essay
The scene on this tapestry from the series of the life of Jacob, shows Esau returning unsuccesfull and hungry from a hunt arrived at the camp of Jacob and found him coocking some lentils. Esau begged his younger twin for some beans, Jacob offered to sell him the beans in return for his birthright.
For an identical subject see E. Standen, European Post-Medieval Tapestries and Related Hangings in The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, 1985, vol. I, cat. 17, p. 139. That tapestry is signed with the weaver's mark 'CT' now attributed to Cornelis Tons (d. 1576).
For an identical subject see E. Standen, European Post-Medieval Tapestries and Related Hangings in The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, 1985, vol. I, cat. 17, p. 139. That tapestry is signed with the weaver's mark 'CT' now attributed to Cornelis Tons (d. 1576).