"When Joseph was seventeen years old... Israel loved Joseph more than all his sons, because he was a son of his old age; and he made him a fine woolen coat." (Genesis 37:2-3)

We are told that the clothing which Adam wore in the Garden of Eden was handed down to Nimrod, to Esau, and finally obtained by Jacob. When he received the blessings from his father, Isaac was able to smell the scent of Eden on his clothes. We are told that the coat Jacob gave to his son Joseph was actually this very outfit.

In the painting Jacob bestows the coat of many colors to his son, reflecting his love for Joseph, who most resembled him. The ensemble of colors unites and connects them. It appears they share one body. Each brush-stroke conveys intimate feeling and emotion in the space that they share. Their inner world is rich with detail, movement and loving energy. Their hearts seem like flickering flames of candles. Yet a disharmony is suggested by the discordant lines and places, foreshadowing the tribulation that was soon going to tear them apart.