Flemish Artist, 17th Century
The Lentil Stew – Esau selling his Birthright
Flemish School, 17th Century
Esau selling his birthright to Jacob (The Lentil Stew)
Oil on panel, 50,2 x 63,8 cm
Price: 18.000 €
In Genesis, Esau returned to his twin brother Jacob, famished from the fields. He begs Jacob to give him some „red pottage“. Jacob offers Esau a bowl of lentil stew in exchange for Esau’s birthright ( the right to be recognized as firstborn son with authority over the family), and Esau agrees. Thus Jacob acquires Esau’s birthright.
This subject is rare in 17th Century Flemish Painting. Stylistically there are parallels to works by Erasmus Quellinus.