Who painted Landscape with Jacob, Rachel and Leah at the Well (Morning)?

Landscape with Jacob, Rachel and Leah at the Well (Morning) was painted by Claude Lorrain in 1666.

Where can I see Landscape with Jacob, Rachel and Leah at the Well (Morning)?

Landscape with Jacob, Rachel and Leah at the Well (Morning) is held by Hermitage Museum.

Artwork

Landscape with Jacob, Rachel and Leah at the Well (Morning)

Landscape with Jacob, Rachel and Leah at the Well (Morning) is an oil painting by Claude Lorrain. It dates from 1666 and is held in the collection of the Hermitage Museum. Created in 1666, this oil painting presents a tranquil countryside scene centered on a well.

About this work

Overview

Created in 1666, this oil painting presents a tranquil countryside scene centered on a well. Three biblical figures—Jacob, Rachel, and Leah—stand beside the water, while a flock of sheep grazes nearby. Rolling hills and distant trees frame the composition, and a faint ruin looms on the horizon, lending the work a timeless, pastoral atmosphere.

Subject & Meaning

The tableau draws from the Genesis narrative in which Jacob’s wives draw water, symbolizing themes of provision and familial bonds. By placing the characters within an expansive natural setting, the artist emphasizes the harmony between human activity and the surrounding landscape, inviting contemplation of both biblical story and the serenity of rural life.

Technique & Style

The painter employs a delicate balance of light and shadow to model the terrain, creating atmospheric depth that guides the eye toward the central well. Soft, diffused illumination bathes the figures, while the distant architecture is rendered with muted tones, reflecting the Baroque sensibility for dramatic yet harmonious naturalism.

History & Provenance

Executed by the French-born, Italy-based artist Claude Lorrain, the work exemplifies his mature period of landscape composition. It entered the State Hermitage Museum’s collection, where it remains on display, representing the museum’s holdings of 17th‑century European painting.

Context

Lorrain’s practice often merged idealized scenery with narrative episodes drawn from scripture or classical antiquity. This piece follows that pattern, using a modest biblical episode to elevate the landscape genre, a shift that influenced later artists who sought to integrate story and environment in a single visual field.