Artwork
Rebecca at the Well
Rebecca at the Well is an ink print by the Baroque artist Joseph Wagner. It dates from 1745 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Joseph Wagner’s print Rebecca at the Well, executed around 1745, is an etching and engraving on laid paper. The monochrome image presents a domestic scene framed by foliage, with a woman in a long dress standing beside a well while three men attend to various tasks.
Subject & Meaning
The composition depicts the biblical figure Rebecca drawing water, a narrative moment often associated with hospitality and generosity. The woman’s composed stance contrasts with the kneeling men—one filling a bucket, another caressing a dog—while a third observer watches from the background, suggesting a quiet, collaborative episode.
Technique & Style
Wagner combined etching’s fluid lines with the precision of engraving to render fine details in clothing, foliage, and animal fur. The use of laid paper adds a subtle texture to the tonal range, while the balanced arrangement of figures and landscape reflects the orderly aesthetic typical of mid‑18th‑century printmaking.
History & Provenance
Created in the mid‑1740s, the work belongs to Wagner’s broader output of narrative prints for the European market. No specific ownership record accompanies the piece, but its survival on paper indicates it was likely circulated among collectors of religious and genre scenes during the period.
Artist & collection
