April 15, 2018
In April, the Frick offered a program for lively discourse at the intersection of art, history, and religion. The program, “Jacob and His Twelve Sons: An Interfaith Perspective,” was presented in conjunction with the special exhibition Zurbarán’s Jacob and His Twelve Sons: Paintings from Auckland Castle (January 13 through April 22, 2018). A panel of faith leaders discussed the Jacob story as told in three religions: Christianity, Islam, and Judaism.
The panel included Rabbi Noam E. Marans (American Jewish Committee), Reverend John A. Kamas, S.S.S. (St. Jean Baptiste Roman Catholic Church), and Professor Hussein Rashid (Barnard College). The conversation was moderated by Lucy Jane Lang (New York County District Attorney’s Office, Eugene M. Lang Foundation).
Visitors described the program as “profoundly moving, intellectually stimulating, spiritually fulfilling, and artistically beautiful.” One visitor said, “To think that in this time of crass populist attacks the Frick should lead in creating a space for enlightened discourse!”
Francisco de Zurbarán, Asher (detail), ca. 1640–45. © The Auckland Project / Zurbarán Trust. Photo: Robert LaPrelle