Northern Caravaggist School

17th Century

Esau selling his birthright to Jacob

Footnotes

Provenance
The Arcade Gallery, London, from whom purchased (as Orazio Gentileschi)
The Collection of Sir Thomas Barlow, 1st Bt, by 1941, by whom gifted to (the above according to a label on the reverse)
The Collection of James Byam Shaw, 1951
With Colnaghi, London
The Collection of Mrs C.A.W. Beaumont, London, by 1989, and thence by descent to the present owners


Literature
B.Nicolson, Caravaggism in Europe, London, 1989, vol. I p. 93, vol. III, ill. fig. 1363

The present composition clearly enjoyed some popularity as three versions of it are known: one, given to Antonio Maria Vassallo (Genoa 1620-1664 Milan), was offered at Galleria d'arte, Bernini, Rome, 21 March 1977, lot 117 (without the dog, lower left); and another was sold at Christie's, South Kensington, 26 October 1989, lot 275 (as Northern Netherlandish Follower of Caravaggio).

The story of Esau selling Jacob his birthright is recounted in the Book of Genesis 25: 29-34. On returning from the field, Esau was exhausted and hungry so asked his brother for some of the stew that Jacob was preparing. In return, Jacob requested that Esau sell him his birthright. Desperate to eat, Esau readily agreed and thus lost his birthright. Depictions of Esau selling his birthright were relatively rare amongst the Dutch Caravaggists at this date although two works of the subject are known by Hendrik ter Brugghen - one in the Gemäldegalerie, Berlin (inv. no. 1982), the other in the Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza (inv. no. 393).

Sir Thomas Barlow (1845-1945) was appointed physician to the royal household in 1896. He became physician-extraordinary to Queen Victoria from 1899-1901 and was present at her deathbed.