Jacob Hears the Voice of the Lord, from "Dalziels' Bible Gallery" 1865 - 1881

Frederick Augustus Sandys made this wood engraving, Jacob Hears the Voice of the Lord, for "Dalziels' Bible Gallery." It was part of a broader cultural phenomenon: in mid-19th century Britain, large publishing houses produced illustrated bibles for a growing middle-class audience. Here, Jacob kneels, shielding his eyes from a divine light. Behind him lies the landscape of his dream. Sandys creates meaning through contrasts: rough textures against smooth skin, darkness versus light, and the earthly against the divine. This image reflects Victorian society's complex relationship with religion. On one hand, the proliferation of illustrated Bibles suggests deep faith and domestic piety. On the other, the intense, visionary quality of Sandys's image hints at the more mystical interpretations of faith that appealed to the Pre-Raphaelites and other counter-cultural artistic movements. To fully understand this work, we might research the Dalziel Brothers' publishing firm, Victorian religious practices, and Sandys's relationship to the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood. These contextual details reveal how social forces shape artistic expression.