Domenico Campagnola

The subject of the present drawing is The Stolen Blessing as told in the book of Genesis (25:19-34; 27; 28:1-5). In this episode, Jacob contrives, at Rebecca’s instigation, to deprive Esau of his father’s blessing. When Isaac was old and nearly blind, he sends Esau out to hunt deer and cook it for him, “that I may give you my blessing before I die.” Rebecca overhears and when Esau leaves to go hunting, instructs Jacob to take Esau’s place in order to obtain the blessing. In the Morgan Library drawing, Isaac is propped up in his bed, blindly reaching to bless Jacob, who kneels at the bedside. The figure at left is probably scheming Rebecca, who watches over her shoulder for the return of Esau, seen in the upper left, with his hunting dogs and with a young deer on his back.

Although the Tietzes considered the drawing to be a late workshop creation, it is considered here to be by Domenico Campagnola. On stylistic grounds, the drawing appears to date from the artist’s mature period.