The story of Jacob and his journey back to his family, as told in Genesis, the first book of the Bible, is only a pretext for the depiction of animals, figures and clothing in a composition that no longer has anything to do with religion. In this canvas by Jacopo Bassano (1510–1592), a brilliant example of Renaissance painting in Venice, the draughtsmanship is dissolved in painting with subtle variations in colour and visible brushstrokes.