Description
“And Jacob dreamed about a ladder that rested on the earth with its top reaching up to heaven, and God’s angels were going up and down the ladder.” Genesis 28:12
In this painting the ladder is shown with 12 steps, representing the 12 tribes and the 12 children of Jacob. In the background Morris paints part of the vast landscape of Israel starting at the bottom of the ladder:
• The Golan Heights
• The Sea of Galilee
• The Dead Sea
• Jerusalem
As you reach the top of the ladder Morris incorporates symbolism into his piece, we see:
• The tree of life and the tree of knowledge
• Doves representing peace but also the angels going up and down the ladder
The top of the ladder touches “midnight” and the legs of the ladder are placed in the “early morning” that symbolizes the time frame of Jacob’s dream.
