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Rachel and Bilhah with Dan from The Story of Jacob series

1550–75
Not on view
The story of Jacob as depicted in this set of six tapestries (1983.73.1–.6) begins with the scene of Esau selling his birthright to Jacob (Gen. 25:29–34). Esau, the hunter, sits with his bow and quiver at his feet. He clasps hands with Jacob, his brother, who is clad in the starred robe that will identify him throughout the story. By this handshake Esau and Jacob seal their agreement, and the former accepts a bowl of food in exchange for his birthright as firstborn. The secondary scenes represent different moments in time and serve to advance the story. In the center distance Esau is shown hunting with two dogs. To the right, Rebecca, mother of Esau and Jacob, is seen cooking outside the tent, probably preparing food for Jacob to present o his father, Isaac (Gen. 27).

The narrative continues to unfold in the other tapestries, which depict Rachel giving her servant Bilhah to Jacob (Gen. 30:1–4), Rachel and Bilhah with her son Dan, and Jacob making a covenant with his father-in-law

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Rachel and Bilhah with Dan from The Story of Jacob series
  • Date: 1550–75
  • Culture: Netherlandish, Brussels
  • Medium: Wool, silk (18 warps per inch, 6–7 per cm.)
  • Dimensions: H. 150 x W. 101 inches (381 x 256.5 cm)
  • Classification: Textiles-Tapestries
  • Credit Line: Bequest of Amy Warren Patterson, 1981
  • Object Number: 1983.73.3
  • Curatorial Department: European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

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The Triumph of Fame, Wool, silk (6-7 warp threads per cm.), Netherlandish, probably Brussels
The Triumph of Fame
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ca. 1502–4
Aglauros’s Vision of the Bridal Chamber of Herse, from the Story of Mercury and Herse, Giovanni Battista Lodi da Cremona Italian, Wool, silk and precious metal-wrapped threads (20-22 warps per inch, 8-9 warps per cm.), Netherlandish, Brussels
Aglauros’s Vision of the Bridal Chamber of Herse, from the Story of Mercury and Herse
Multiple artists/makers
designed ca. 1540, woven ca. 1570
Mercury Changes Aglauros to Stone, from the Story of Mercury and Herse, Giovanni Battista Lodi da Cremona Italian, Wool, silk and precious metal-wrapped threads (20-22 warps per inch, 8-9 warps per cm.), Netherlandish, Brussels
Mercury Changes Aglauros to Stone, from the Story of Mercury and Herse
Multiple artists/makers
designed ca. 1540, woven ca. 1570
Panel with grotesques, from a set of bed hangings, Cornelis Floris II Netherlandish, Silk, wool, silver and silver-gilt thread (20-22 warps per inch, 8-9 per cm.), Netherlandish, Brussels
Panel with grotesques, from a set of bed hangings
Cornelis Floris II
ca. 1550–60
Panel with grotesques, from a set of bed hangings, Cornelis Floris II Netherlandish, Silk, wool, silver and silver-gilt thread (20-22 warps per inch, 8-9 per cm.), Netherlandish, Brussels
Panel with grotesques, from a set of bed hangings
Cornelis Floris II
ca. 1550–60

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