Classicizing Baroque, Biblical, Willem Muys, Rebekka and Eliëzer

Willem Muys was a Dutch, 18th-century painter of history pieces, portraits and cabinet pieces. Above all, he appears to have been active as a painter of ‘wallpaper’. Until the mid-18th century, ‘wallpaper’ was not painted on paper but coarsely woven linen. Wealthy citizens had their mansions or country estates adorned with ‘wallpaper’ with landscapes, exotic birds or chinoiseries. Willem Muys mainly painted ‘wallpaper’, which means that few of his works have been preserved. They are hardly represented in public collections. The results of his sons, Nicolaas en Robbert, both painters, are a little less rare. The painting with Rebecca and Eliezer at the well depicts a biblical subject from the Old Testament (Gen. 24: 46-67). The story goes as follows. Abraham sent his servant, Eliezer, to Mesopotamia to find a wife for his son Isaac. In his prayers, Elizier asked how he would be able to recognize the most suitable bride. He revealed that the woman who would offer him and his ten camels water would be the chosen one. Here, we witness how Rebecca has provided water to Eliezer and his camel herd. She receives precious jewels as a future bride.