Jacob and the Flocks of Laban–Jacob's Departure from Laban, from "Dalziels' Bible Gallery"

This wood engraving is part of the ambitious 'Dalziels' Bible Gallery,' a landmark Victorian publishing project that brought together leading British artists to illustrate biblical narratives. Published by Camden Press between 1865 and 1881, the series featured engravings rendered by the renowned Dalziel Brothers workshop, master craftsmen who translated artists' designs into the finest wood engravings of the era. This particular print depicts two pivotal moments from Genesis: Jacob's clever breeding of Laban's flocks to increase his own wealth, and his subsequent secret departure with his family after years of serving his father-in-law. The narrative compression—showing multiple scenes within a single composition—was typical of Victorian biblical illustration, allowing viewers to follow the story's progression.

The wood engraving technique employed here allowed for remarkable tonal gradation and fine detail, printed on delicate India paper then mounted on card for stability and presentation. Notice how the engraver has created depth and atmosphere through parallel lines and cross-hatching, techniques that distinguished the Dalziels' workshop as the premier wood engravers of their time. This print would have been part of a larger volume intended for middle-class Victorian homes, where biblical literacy was both a spiritual practice and a mark of cultural refinement. The series represented the height of reproductive printmaking before photomechanical processes transformed book illustration.