Rebekah and Eliezer at the Well from the Story of Abraham

Art Historical Context

This exquisite Flemish tapestry, titled *Rebekah and Elie at the Well from the of Abraham* and dated around 1600, captures a pivotal moment from the Book of Genesis. Abraham's trusted servant Eliezer, sent to find a bride for Isaac, encounters Rebekah at a well. She offers him water and kindly waters his camels, proving her worthiness. Woven with wool, silk, and shimmering silver-gilt thread, square panel (19¾ x 20 inches) brims with vivid details: figures of men and women, a central well, and blooming flowers, evoking a lush, narrative scene typical of biblical tapestries. Crafted in Flanders—a powerhouse of tapestry production during the Renaissance—the work showcases masterful weaving techniques. Its fine gauge of 21 warps per inch (9 per cm) allowed for intricate details and luminous effects from the metallic threads, which would have caught candlelight in grand European homes or churches. Flemish tapestries like this were prized exports, blending artistry with storytelling to inspire faith and virtue. Now at The Metropolitan Museum of Art thanks to a 1941 gift from George Blumenthal, this small yet splendid piece highlights the enduring cultural role of textiles in 17th-century Europe, transforming sacred scripture into wearable opulence for everyday devotion.