Veiled Rebecca

Sculpture

The above picture is of the exhibit in Salar Jung Museum, Hyderabad, India

The sculpture depicts an Old Testament scene, where Rebecca lays eyes on her husband Isaac for the first time. Rebecca's head is bowed and her gaze is lowered as she secures her veil indicating demure modesty, although her other hand partially opens up in a welcoming gesture. The fringed veil drapes over her face, head and shoulder, and dangled unevenly above her feet.

Sculptor

G.B Benzoni of Milan executed principal version of the work in 1863 for Robert Henry Winttie of London. What makes this sculpture so extraordinary is, it features all the best qualities of the 19th century Neoclassical period. Both the veil and the figure have been carved out of a single piece of marble. The folds and creases of the dress are finished with inimitable precision, lucidity and meticulousness.

Exhibits

Originally several copies of the sculpture were made by Benzoni in two different sizes. Presently, location of five sculptures are identified.

• High Museum of Art in Atlanta 1864
• Berkshire Museum, Pittsfield, Massachusetts 1866
• Detroit Institute of Arts, Detroit, Michigan 1872
• Salar Jung Museum, Hyderabad, India 1876
• Cedarhurst Center for the Arts, Mount Vernon, Illinois Not known