Cleveland Museum of Art

Plate 4: Judah

Jacob de Gheyn II

Date

c. 1589

Medium

engraving

Culture

Netherlands

Department

Prints

Institution

Cleveland Museum of Art

In this print, the biblical figure Judah is posed in a ceremonial robe with a lion and holding a scepter, symbolizing his power, bravery, success in battle, and leadership. This is one of a series of prints depicting the twelve sons of Jacob, each with an attribute and costume that denotes his character. According to the Old Testament, Jacob blessed each of his twelve sons, prophesizing the destiny of their tribe, and assigning them a parcel of land in Canaan. The print series was made in the Netherlands in the late 16th century, a time of political struggle when Old Testament heroes were popular exemplars of fortitude and patience. The crown atop the hat of this Old Testament figure symbolizes his status as an ancestor of Kings David and Solomon.

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