Giovanni Francesco Barbieri, called Guercino
Italian, 1591-1666
Study for Jacob Blessing the Sons of Joseph (recto); Sketches: Saint Christopher; Two Figures in Conversation over Money (verso)
INV-1127
Giovanni Francesco Barbieri, called Guercino
Italian, 1591-1666c. 1620
Study for Jacob Blessing the Sons of Joseph (recto); Sketches: Saint Christopher; Two Figures in Conversation over Money (verso)
Giovanni Francesco Barbieri, called Guercino Italian, 1591-1666 →pen and ink drawingsdrawings (visual works)
Date
c. 1620
Medium
Pen and brown ink, with brush and gray and brown wash (recto) and pen and brown ink and graphite (verso), on cream laid paper
Dimensions
18.1 × 24.5 cm (7 3/16 × 9 11/16 in.)
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Location
Chicago, IL
Credit
The Leonora Hall Gurley Memorial Collection
This is the earliest known study for a commission that Guercino was given in 1620 by Cardinal Jacopo Serra, Legate of Ferrara. The forceful, naturalistic drawing captures the moment of the Old Testament story in which Joseph attempts to guide the blessing arm of the nearly blind Jacob away from his younger son Ephraim to the head of his first-born, Manasse.
Also notable
Works in the same vein
Study for "The Martyrdom of Saint Bartholomew"
Giovanni Francesco Barbieri, called Guercino Italian, 1591-1666
Madonna Mourning: Studies for the Entombment of Christ
Giovanni Francesco Barbieri, called Guercino Italian, 1591-1666
Sacrifice of Isaac (recto); Jacob's Dream (verso)
Giovanni Francesco Barbieri, called Guercino Italian, 1591-1666
