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Rachel Sitting on the Household Gods of Laban

Image credit: National Trust Images

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The scene shows an episode from the Old Testament. Rachel stole sacred figurines, 'the household gods', from the house of her father, Laban, and hid them in a camel's pack. Here she is concealing them from him by protesting her inability to get up due to it being her time of the month. Both she and her older sister, Leah, were married to Jacob. He was finally escaping to Canaan after 14 years of labour, undertaken as payment for marrying Rachel. After Laban discovers the theft he sets out in pursuit and soon catches up with them. Meanwhile, his servants are searching a chest and Jacob is pointing out that he does not have the idols.

Henry Hoare II bought this painting as a pair with 'The Sacrifice of Noah', by the same artist. They were placed in the picture gallery, built by Richard Colt Hoare at Stourhead, and have remained there ever since.

National Trust, Stourhead

Warminster

Title

Rachel Sitting on the Household Gods of Laban

Date

c.1720

Medium

oil on canvas

Measurements

H 137 x W 255.5 cm

Accession number

732124

Acquisition method

gift from Sir Henry Hugh Arthur Hoare along with the estate, house and its contents, 1946

Work type

Painting

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National Trust, Stourhead

Stourton, Warminster, Wiltshire BA12 6QD England

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