Late 18th-Century Embroidered Depiction of Old Testament Meeting of Isaac and Rebecca at the Well

Details

Description

On offer is a George III silk needlework picture, an an authentic piece of English textile history dating back to … Read more On offer is a George III silk needlework picture, an an authentic piece of English textile history dating back to the late 18th century. It showcases the highly skilled, domestic textile artistry popularized by upper-class women of that period.

SCENE: The piece depicts the Old Testament narrative of the Meeting of Isaac and Rebecca at the Well chronicled in Genesis 24. Rebecca stands by the well holding a water pitcher, having just offered water to Abraham’s servant, Eliezer, who traveled to find a bride for Isaac. Eliezer is seated under the shade of a large tree, gesturing upward in a sign of gratitude or greeting.

EXECUTION: While the clothing, landscape, foliage and well are intricately rendered with colored silk threads, the faces and skin tones are delicately painted directly onto the silk ground. This classic technique was used in the 18th century to achieve realistic facial expressions that were difficult to capture via embroidery alone.

MATERIALS: The picture is worked in colored silk threads on a woven silk backing. It employs fine satin stitching and long-and-short stitches to create texture and depth, particularly visible in the heavy drapery of the figures' robes and the texture of the tree bark.

FRAME: The artwork is housed under a reverse-painted black glass mat (known as a verre églomisé mount). The black mat is embellished with an oval gilt border framing the primary scene, accented by four gilded, multi-pointed stylized floral rosettes flanking the corners. This mat is secured in its period-appropriate, carved gilt gesso frame.

HISTORY: The back of the frame contains important historical artifacts that trace this piece’s modern commercial history. A clipped auction or gallery catalog label identifies the piece as entry "345. GEORGE III SILK NEEDLEWORK PICTURE". It notes the attribution to a late 18th-century English origin, correctly identifies the scene and credits the previous ownership or collection name (Gavrilovitch). A handwritten pencil inscription above the label dates an event or acquisition to February 12, 1942.

Below the text is an official paper label from the J.J. Gillespie Co. Fine Arts gallery, located at 535 Wood Street in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1832, J.J. Gillespie Co. was one of the oldest and most prestigious fine art dealerships in the United States, known for importing high-quality European art, textiles, and antiques to affluent American industrial families during the 19th and 20th centuries. Lastly, a small typewritten fragment at the bottom reads: "Given to me by Reca... after Blanche... Klee died." This links the object to a personal family lineage or estate distribution following its time in the art market.

Signature/Maker’s Mark: Nonexistent. Image dimensions: 15.5” inches high x 12.5 inches wide. See less