Eliëzer en Rebekka bij de bron - Hieronymus Lapis

A classical pen and wash drawing depicting the biblical meeting of Eliezer and Rebekah at a well, rendered with precise lines and tonal depth.

This drawing by Hieronymus Lapis depicts the biblical encounter between Eliezer, the servant of Abraham, and Rebekah at the well. The composition follows a classical arrangement, placing the figures around a central stone well. Eliezer stands to the left, gesturing towards Rebekah, who occupies the centre of the scene. To the right, other women attend to water vessels, while camels and a distant figure appear in the background, providing a sense of scale and setting.

Lapis employs a technique of pen and brown ink combined with grey wash to define form and shadow. The lines are precise and controlled, characteristic of the draughtsmanship of the period. The wash creates a soft, tonal quality that models the drapery of the figures and the texture of the stone well. The arched top of the sheet suggests this work may have been a preparatory study for a larger decorative project or a finished composition intended for an album.

As a Dutch artist active during the eighteenth century, Lapis was influenced by the prevailing classical traditions. His approach to this narrative subject is balanced and orderly. The figures are rendered with a focus on anatomical proportion and graceful posture, reflecting the aesthetic values of the time. The scene avoids excessive ornamentation, allowing the narrative interaction between the two primary figures to remain the focus. The inclusion of animals and architectural elements provides a sense of place, grounding the biblical event in a recognisable, albeit stylised, environment. This print captures the delicate nuances of the original ink and wash, preserving the subtle gradations of tone and the clarity of the artist's line work.