Circle of Bartolomé Esteban Murillo (Seville 1618-1682)

Jacob's prophetic dream of a ladder with angels ascending to heaven (Gen. 28:10-22) while resting for the night on his journey to Harran, was a popular subject in Christian painting. Jacob dreamt that God spoke to him, promising him the land where he slept to his descendants, the Iraelites, and when he woke he built a pillar from stones, calling it the place of Bethel, or 'House of God'.
The darkened night scene depicted in the present work, to represent reality, is in direct contrast to the radiance of the heavenly ladder, the angels and God, while Jacob, asleep, represents the connection between the two worlds.