Jacob, Ephraim and Manasseh (oil on canvas)

Old Testament Book of Genesis: Joseph brought his two sons before his father, Jacob, to be blessed. The blind old man, unexpectedly, crossed his arms, in a prophetic pose of the sign of the cross, and blessed Ephraim, his younger grandson, with his right hand, thus favouring him over his elder brother. It was from the young boy's descendants that Christ was born .The disbelief of Joseph and of his elder son Manasseh is clearly shown. The original painting, painted around 1620, is now in the National Gallery, Ireland (presented by Sir Denis Mahon to the British Fund for the National Gallery of Ireland, 2008). It was commissioned by Cardinal Jacopo Serra, the Papal Legate in Ferrara.