Rébecca et Éliézer

Murillo painted this around 1660 in Seville, and he treated a story from Genesis as if it were happening in his own city. The subject is the servant Eliezer, sent to find a bride for Isaac, meeting Rebecca at the well when she offers him water. But the women gathered with their pitchers look like girls from Triana, the potters' quarter across the river, caught mid-conversation around a fountain. The holy errand becomes an ordinary afternoon of neighbours fetching water. Rebecca lowers her eyes while Eliezer makes his case, and the girl behind her leans in to watch, one hand still resting on the rim of her jar.