MINIATURIST, Greek
(active 6th century in Jerusalem)

Vienna Genesis

6th century
Manuscript (Codex Vindobonensis theol. graec. 31)
Österreichische Nationalbibliothek, Vienna

The picture at the lower part of folio 13 recto shows the first meeting of Rebekah and Eliezer at the well (Genesis, 24). Eliezer has been sent by his master, Abraham, to the homeland of the patriarch, Mesopotamia, to seek a wife for his son, Isaac. Rebekah is depicted twice, at two different moments. At the left she is seen with the empty pitcher, coming down the track from the town. The track curves round a decorative, half-naked, reclining female figure who is in fact a classical nymph of the spring transposed to a biblical setting. The second time we see Rebekah at the well, giving Eliezer water to drink.

One especially exotic feature is the herd of camels likewise wanting to drink.




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