Rebecca Quenching the Thirst of Eliezer at the Well

Rebecca Quenching the Thirst of Eliezer from 1626 depicts the Old Testament scene where Rebecca offers water to Abraham's servant. Poussin found in such narratives opportunities to explore human virtue and divine providence. Poussin approached Old Testament subjects with rigorous compositional logic, researching costume, architecture, and landscape from scholarly sources. These biblical narratives were conceived as history paintings in the highest academic sense, intended to instruct as well ...

The composition centers on the gesture of offering water with classical figure arrangement. Poussin's palette and handling create a scene of gracious hospitality.