Jacob wrestling with the Angel

Acrylic on canvas, 80 x 100 cm

My first fatigue of 2010 is a large (80 x 100) painting of a biblical tale: the struggle between Jacob and "the angel" (depicted in the Bible as a stranger). I was inspired by an exhibition about Kosher at the Jewish Museum in Berlin, where a large painting depicting the scene was there to illustrate why Jews don't eat back parts of animals (really, really weird diet). I was so impressed by the tale (expecially for the "fighting against God and win" thing) that when I came back in Italy I started to read the biblical story of Jacob (really a naughty guy!) to do my own version of the tale.

Here is the quote from Genesis:

And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day.

And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him.

And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.

And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob.

And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.

And Jacob asked him, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, thy name. And he said, Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name? And he blessed him there.

And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.

And as he passed over Penuel the sun rose upon him, and he halted upon his thigh.

Therefore the children of Israel eat not of the sinew which shrank, which is upon the hollow of the thigh, unto this day: because he touched the hollow of Jacob's thigh in the sinew that shrank"

(Gn 32,24-32)