Rebecca at the Well 1816

Curator: Here we have Washington Allston’s painting, "Rebecca at the Well," currently held at the Harvard Art Museums. Allston lived from 1779 to 1843 and was deeply interested in biblical themes and their place in society. Editor: The hazy light, it’s almost dreamlike. I get a sense of gentle generosity just from the way Rebecca offers the water. Curator: Allston was part of a Romantic movement and this piece really shows that through his idyllic vision of the past. Look at the figures in the background and the almost mythical landscape of the city beyond. Editor: It’s as if the figures are emerging from a half-remembered story, a little faded but beautiful nonetheless. I wonder what the story means to us now. Curator: Allston sought to ennoble American art by connecting it to these timeless narratives. Editor: Well, it certainly makes me think about how we can all offer a bit of ourselves to others, even something as simple as water.