Art Virtual Tour
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Institution
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Art Virtual Tour
The Blessings of a Father
Introduction
Virtual tours are quite interesting as they help to familiarize themselves with the vibrant pieces of artistry found in museums. The Frick Art Collection in New York provided the necessary content for this assignment. The focus was on Zurbaran’s Jacob and his twelve sons, which are paintings from Auckland Castle. This is a series of thirteen paintings that revolve around the teachings of the Old Testament and, therefore, relevant to the Jews, Christians, and Muslims. They are initially from Spain and date back to the 17th century (Francisco de Zubaran, 1598-1664). This virtual tour will focus on six of these paintings to analyze the blessings of a parent that are quite important in traditional and even modern-day society.
https://www.frick.org/sites/default/files/styles/max-w_full/public/exhibitions/objects/2017/CAT1_Jacob-cc-2000.jpg?itok=e1tUJ7D
These paintings tell the story of Jacob, and therefore the first is that of Jacob, the author of the blessings of the father of the children. It is believed that Zurbaran painted this around 1598-1664. It is an oil on canvas painting, and Zurbaran does it justice by depicting the features of Jacob according to the Biblical text where he tells the sons to gather around so that he could predict their futures in terms of blessings and curses. In the painting, Jacob is depicted as having a stooped posture with his hands resting on his cane. This illustrates his advanced age, where most ancient men would leave their blessings or curses to their children and their descendants. He also has a white and long beard, which was more common among older people. Jacob, in the painting, also wears a turban, which is in gold brocade with a long scarf. The color gold illustrates divinity and glory, which Jacob was part of ever since he wrestled with God and received his blessing.
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https://www.frick.org/sites/default/files/styles/max-w_medium/public/exhibitions/objects/2017/CAT2_Reuben-cc-2000.jpg?itok=q00nVjeI
The other painting in the collection is that of Reuben, who the firstborn son of Jacob was. Zurbaran painted this oil on canvas piece of art in 1640-1645. Through the Old Testament, it is common for the firstborn to receive the blessings from a father. However, in the case of Reuben, he defiled his father’s bed by sleeping with his concubine. Therefore, his father had no choice other than to curse him and indicate that he would not excel. Zurbaran has illustrated these factors quite well in the painting. First, Reuben, in the art, appears as resting his hands on a column. Traditionally the column signifies courage in the face of adversity. As the firstborn, Reuben is bound to feel sorry for himself for the shameful actions that deny him a blessing. The painting also shows his downcast eyes, which are symbolic of the shame that he feels inside. Zurbaran’s work here is similar to Albrecht Durer’s The Flagellation, which depicts Pontius Pilate, dressed in the same turban and robe.
https://www.frick.org/sites/default/files/styles/max-w_medium/public/exhibitions/objects/2017/CAT3_Simeon-cc-2000.jpg?itok=_deNqqHf
The other painting is that of Simeon, who was among the sons of Leah. The estimated period during which Zurbaran painted this was 1640-1645. The art form is oil on canvas. In the painting, Simeon is seemingly holding a long stick on the one hand and has a sword tied on his waist on the other side. His face is also in a three-quarter view, which is a pose similar to a sixteenth-century print of King Darius. These depictions by the artist point towards a violent person and explains the reason why Simeon received curses from the father. The Bible stories indicate that they had earlier on killed men in their anger, which led to his affliction. The dress code in which Zurbaran also presents him is a testament to his savage nature. The painting shows him dressed in animal skins and a sash that is red tied along with his waste. The color red may depict the bloodshed that he orchestrated. The animal skins are a testament to his savagery.
https://www.frick.org/sites/default/files/styles/max-w_medium/public/exhibitions/objects/2017/CAT7_Issachar-cc-2000.jpg?itok=Dx9ox90e
Then there is the oil on canvas piece of art showing Issachar, who is Leah’s fifth born son. The painting was done in 1640-1645. The Bible indicates that Jacob forecasts Issachar’s future as that of a slave, and that is how Zurbaran depicts him. The painting has Issachar in a revealing piece of cloth to show the muscular legs that may be a sign of hard work that comes with slavery. He also has a backpack, which is red. This depicts his belongings and his unsettled life once again, similar to that of a slave. A donkey is also a slave, and the presence of the same as an awkwardly cropped head cutting in the image is well thought out. It shows the relationship of Issachar to this animal, as they are both toilers. Zurbaran got the concept of the donkey from the works of Jacques de Gheyn II.
https://www.frick.org/sites/default/files/styles/max-w_full/public/exhibitions/objects/2017/CAT9_Gad-cc-2000.jpg?itok=EnjqArDl
Zurbaran, in 1598-1664 worked on another oil on canvas masterpiece to depict Gad. This is one person whose that blessing was quite contradictory from the Biblical teachings, ‘Gad shall be raided by raiders, but he shall raid at their heels.’ In line with this, Zurbaran shows Gad holding a club, a sword attached to the waist, and a breastplate. This is exemplary of a person who is always ready for battle, whether an attack or to attack the enemy.
https://www.frick.org/sites/default/files/styles/max-w_medium/public/exhibitions/objects/2017/CAT12_Joseph-cc-2000.jpg?itok=lrU8AIeY
Lastly, there is Joseph, who was the first son of Rachel, the second wife of Jacob. This is also an oil on canvas painting. Joseph is the one person who seems to have received the most blessings from his father as he called him a fruitful bough. Zurbaran’s painting depicts Jacob in regal attire, a document in his hands, and a rod, which signifies the greatness that he became part of later in his life. Once again, Zurbaran takes the idea of Joseph’s costume from Jacques de Gheyn 11 Works.
References
Zurbaran, F. (1598-1665). Jacob and His Twelve Sons: Paintings from Auckland Castle. The Frick Collection. Retrieved from https://www.frick.org/exhibitions/zurbaran