Jacob and Rachel at the Well, ca. 1732

About the Work

The elegant chalk drawing on blue paper was certainly appreciated as a drawing in itself, but initially it served as a sketch (submitted to the client) for a painting which, together with other pieces, was created for the decoration of a Parisian noble palace. Jacob, who had fled from his brother Esau, meets the beautiful Rachel at a well in a foreign country and instantly falls in love with her. The situation's emotiveness is underlined by the composition's pastoral character. A similar, albeit later drawing by the artist is obj. no. 1286 Z.