Isaac Blessing Jacob

This fresco, attributed to Giotto di Bondone or a close associate, dates to around 1290 and forms part of the Old Testament cycle in the Upper Church of the Basilica of Saint Francis in Assisi. The elderly, blind Isaac extends his blessing to Jacob, who disguises himself as his older brother Esau to receive the inheritance. Rebekah, the boys' mother and conspirator, watches from behind.

The fresco shows early versions of Giotto's radical techniques: figures occupy believable space, and the scene unfolds with psychological realism despite the cutaway wall revealing the interior. Some scholars attribute the work to the anonymous "Isaac Master" rather than Giotto himself, noting similarities to Pietro Cavallini's work in Rome. Regardless of attribution, the fresco influenced generations of painters including Fra Angelico and Masaccio. The image demonstrates how human drama could transform biblical narrative.