Joseph's Coat Brought to Jacob

"Joseph's Coat Brought to Jacob," executed by David Deuchar (English, 1743-1808), is an important example of the reproductive prints popular in late eighteenth-century England. This piece is an etching rendered in black ink on ivory wove paper, created sometime between 1763 and 1808. Deuchar worked directly after the compositional style and emotional gravity of Rembrandt van Rijn, faithfully translating the dramatic chiaroscuro and narrative intensity of the Dutch Master’s original concept into the medium of printmaking.

The subject, drawn from the Book of Genesis, depicts the tragic moment when Jacob is deceived by his sons into believing his favorite son, Joseph, has been killed. The composition focuses on the contrasting emotions: the feigned sorrow and deception of the brothers set against the genuine, raw grief of the patriarch, who holds the blood-stained coat. Deuchar’s skillful use of the etching needle captures the intricate detailing and controlled tonal shifts necessary to achieve the somber, heavy atmosphere associated with the Baroque interpretation of the story.

Such fine art prints played a vital role in disseminating the legacy of influential European masters across the continent. Deuchar’s meticulous handling of light and shadow in this work reflects the deep influence of the Dutch Golden Age tradition onto the English printmaking culture of the Georgian era. This historical work, demonstrating both technical mastery and significant cultural transference, is currently held in the esteemed collection of the Art Institute of Chicago.