1656_Jacob_Blessing_Josephs_Children_Rembrandt.txt

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Rembrandt Harmensz. van Rijn 1606 – 1669
Jacob Blessing the Children of Joseph

oil on canvas (175 × 210 cm) — 1656
Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister, Kassel

Rembrandt Harmensz. van Rijn biography

This work is linked to Genesis 48:16

When Joseph heard that his father Jacob was dying, he took his sons Manasseh and Ephraim to see him. He wanted Jacob to bless his sons. The old man was willing to do so, but much to Joseph's surprise he put his right hand on Ephraim's head. Tradition had it that the eldest son was to be blessed with the right hand, and Ephraim was the younger son.

As Joseph objected, the Jacob said about Ephraim that "his seed shall become a multitude of nations".

Rembrandt choose not to depict the argument in this intimate painting. He also showes Asenath, the mother of the children.