Minneapolis Institute of Art

Jacob Wrestling with the Angel

Cristoforo Roncalli (il Pomarancio)

Date

early 1620s

Medium

Oil on canvas

Department

European Art

Institution

Minneapolis Institute of Art

This dreamlike painting shows Jacob’s encounter with an angel on his journey home to Canaan. Jacob had sent his family and servants ahead to meet his twin brother Esau, along with his best livestock to be given as a peace offering. Left alone in the night, Jacob met a stranger and wrestled him until dawn. The angel, realizing he could not prevail, put Jacob’s hip out of joint and implored, “Let me go, for the day is breaking.” Jacob refused without a blessing. The angel asked Jacob his name and said, “You shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with human beings and have prevailed.” Then the angel blessed Jacob. Cristoforo Roncalli depicted the angel restraining Jacob in an embrace that is almost tender. The artist favored energetic, bold forms and dramatic contrasts of light and shade. Here he highlighted the angel against Jacob’s darker silhouette, illuminating the pale flesh, yellow drapery, and iridescent wings with strong light. The picture was likely commissioned by Pope Urban VIII Barberini when he was a cardinal. Upon his election to the papacy in 1623, his art collection passed to his family. This work remained with descendants of the Barberini through the 20th century. It underwent conservation following its acquisition by the museum. The canvas was mounted on a new stretcher to stabilize the support and a dirty varnish was removed. Italy, Europe

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