Jacob Draws Water for Rachel's Animals (Engraving, Met-Objekt 6114)
Original title: Jacob Draws Water for Rachel's Animals (Jacob abreuve le troupeau de Rachel)
kurzbeschreibung
Claude Mellan engraved a biblical episode from the Book of Genesis in Jakob schöpft Wasser für Rachels Tiere (Jacob Waters Rachel's Flock). The undated print, made by engraving, measures 39 by 43 cm. It shows Jacob drawing water at the well to water Rachel's herd.
Description
Up front Jacob steps forward, lifting water from the well with a long pole; beside him sits a woman, likely Rachel, also holding a pole. Several sheep have gathered on a low platform to the left, while on the right a camel is steadied by another man. An additional man with a staff appears farther back, looking at something. Muted grays dominate the image, and light from above sharpens the outlines of the figures.
Context
The Frenchman Claude Mellan worked as a copperplate engraver in the 17th century and was known for his precise line work. The subject comes from the Old Testament (Genesis 29), the meeting of Jacob and Rachel at the well. Mellan was active in Rome and Paris and produced many biblical scenes. Exactly when this print was made is not recorded.
Impact
The picture comes alive through the moving figures and clear lighting. Restricting itself to grays gives the scene a calm, almost monumental presence. Mellan's precise strokes create a detailed yet highly legible effect.
Technique
For this engraving, lines were cut into a metal plate and then printed. This allows very fine and exact hatching, typical of Mellan's working method. The sheet printed on paper measures 39 by 43 cm.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)