Figure Study for "Jacob Wrestling with the Angel"
Classification
figures
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Gift of Allyn Cox
Accession Number
1960-83-182
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
Kenyon Cox, a leading American artist of the late 19th century, created this figure study in 1886 as preparation for his larger composition *Jacob Wrestling with the Angel*. Cox, who trained in Paris and helped shape the American Renaissance movement, often explored classical and biblical themes with a focus on the human form. This preparatory work captures the dynamic tension of two intertwined figures, allowing the artist to refine anatomy, pose, and emotional intensity before committing to the final canvas. The biblical story of Jacob wrestling through the night with a mysterious angel has...