Life of Jacob

Vos, Maarten de, after

Engraving on paper of episodes from the life of Jacob from a series of Genesis stories, attributed to Adriaen Collaert (c.1560-1618) after Maarten de Vos (1532-1603) and published by Eduard van Hoeswinckel (fl. 1570s-1583) in Antwerp between 1579 and 1583. The central panel depicts Jacob increases his flock. The three smaller scenes are, from left, Jacob and Laban set up a boundary marker (massebah) in Gilead as a witness to their agreement (mizpah), Jacob wrestles with an angel, and Jacob asks for Esau’s forgiveness. Latin verse inscribed in cartouche below is based on Genesis 30 and begins, ‘Laban wanted to cheat you, Jacob, but he found himself cheated by his own art.’