JACQUES LIPCHITZ | Jacob and the Angel

Private Collection, New Jersey (and sold: Sotheby's, New York, May 4, 2006, lot 361)
Acquired at the above sale

Alan G. Wilkinson, The Sculpture of Jacques Lipchitz, A Catalogue Raisonné, the Paris Years, 1910-1940, vol. 1, New York, 1996, no. 269, illustrations of other casts pp. 93 & 202

Excellent condition. Dark brown patina. Some surface dirt in the deeper crevices. Otherwise fine. You may contact the Impressionist & Modern Art department directly for a condition report of this lot prepared by Wilson Conservation
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

Iterations of the nocturnal scene from the book of Genesis, in which Jacob wrestles an angel on his way to Canaan, has been a commonly represented allegory in the history of art. In the present work, Lipchitz modernizes previous interpretations by the likes of Eugène Delacroix and Gustave Moreau (see fig. 1). 

The authenticity of this work has kindly been confirmed by Pierre Levai.