Isaac Blessing Jacob, from "Dalziels' Bible Gallery"
Medium
Wood engraving on India paper, mounted on thin card
Dimensions
Image: 8 7/16 × 6 15/16 in. (21.4 × 17.7 cm) India sheet: 10 5/8 × 8 13/16 in. (27 × 22.4 cm) Mount: 16 7/16 in. × 12 15/16 in. (41.8 × 32.8 cm)
Classification
Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Anonymous Gift, 1926
Accession Number
26.99.1(19)
Rights
Public Domain
Tags
Art Historical Context
This wood engraving captures the pivotal biblical moment from Genesis when the aging Isaac, nearly blind, bestows his blessing upon Jacob, mistaking him for his elder brother Esau. Created for *Dalziels’ Bible Gallery* (1880–81), the print reflects the Victorian era’s fascination with richly illustrated scriptural narratives. Edward Armitage, a noted history painter associated with the Royal Academy, designed the composition, while the renowned Dalziel Brothers handled the engraving. Their collaborative project brought together leading artists to produce a monumental series of Bible illustrations intended for wide public appreciation. The medium of wood engraving on India paper allowed for exceptional detail and tonal subtlety, making it ideal for reproducing dramatic scenes with fine lines and rich contrasts. Mounted on card for presentation, such prints elevated book illustration to the level of fine art. The Dalziel firm’s technical mastery helped popularize these images, bridging high art and accessible religious storytelling during a period when printed media flourished. Today, this work in the Metropolitan Museum’s collection highlights how 19th-century printmaking transformed sacred stories into visually compelling experiences for diverse audiences.
About the Artist
Camden Press|Scribner and Welford|Dalziel Brothers|Edward Armitage (British|American|British) · 1857 |1800 |1839 –1893 |1899 |1893
British, London|New York, NY|British, active 1839–93