Artwork
Rebecca and Eliezer at the Well
Rebecca and Eliezer at the Well is an oil painting by the Early Baroque Italian artist Domenico Gargiulo. It dates from 1650 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.
About this work
Overview
Domenico Gargiulo, known by the nickname Micco Spadaro, created the oil painting *Rebecca and Eliezer at the Well* circa 1650. Executed in the Baroque idiom of mid‑seventeenth‑century Naples, the work presents a biblical encounter set within a lively, naturalistic landscape. The canvas is presently part of the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst in Copenhagen.
Subject & Meaning
The composition illustrates the moment from Genesis when the servant Eliezer meets Rebecca at a village well, a scene traditionally interpreted as a divine test of hospitality and destiny. Rebecca, distinguished by a bright yellow garment, is shown offering water to the traveler, while surrounding figures observe, underscoring themes of generosity and providential choice.
Technique & Style
Gargiulo employs a vivid palette of reds, blues, and yellows that contrast with the surrounding greens of trees and the muted tones of the rocky backdrop. Light falls across faces and drapery, creating a subtle chiaroscuro that models the figures and adds depth. The inclusion of a drinking dog and a servant bearing a jug contributes to the genre‑like realism characteristic of his work.
History & Provenance
After its creation in Naples, the painting entered various private collections before being acquired by the Statens Museum for Kunst, where it has been displayed since the early twentieth century. Documentation traces its ownership through European dealers, confirming its attribution to Gargiulo and its consistent identification as a Baroque religious narrative.
Context
In the mid‑1600s Naples, artists such as Gargiulo blended religious subjects with everyday details, reflecting the Counter‑Reformation’s demand for accessible, emotionally resonant imagery. The work’s combination of biblical narrative, landscape, and genre elements exemplifies the regional Baroque tendency to merge devotional content with vivid, naturalistic settings.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Domenico Gargiulo called Micco Spadaro (c. 1609 or 1610 – c. 1675) was an Italian painter of the Baroque period, mainly active in Naples and known for his landscapes, genre scenes, and history paintings.
