Jacob Blessing Ephraim and Manasseh
1881
In this dramatic 1881 scene, the biblical patriarch Jacob pulls a classic family maneuver on his deathbed, crossing his arms to deliberately bless his younger grandson Ephraim over the firstborn Manasseh. The aging Jacob, draped in heavy, textured robes, embraces the boys while their father Joseph (on the left) gently guides the blessing, his expression a mix of reverence and concern. Frederick Richard Pickersgill’s Romantic style shines through the emotional intensity and the intricate, scratchy lines of the print, making the moment feel incredibly intimate and heavy with destiny. This specific act of favoritism would go on to define the future tribes of Israel for centuries.
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