Veiled Rebecca
Discover the captivating 19th-century Italian sculpture depicting the biblical figure of Rebecca.
Who is Rebecca?
Rebecca, a woman of great beauty and kindness, is a biblical character from Mesopotamia (present day Iraq), who was chosen to be the wife of Isaac, son of Abraham and Sarah.
First glimpse of Isaac
Rebecca's first glimpses Isaac praying in the fields. On recognizing her future husband, Rebecca dismounts from her camel and covers herself with a veil, signifying respect and modesty. This moment is captured in the marble sculpture 'Veiled Rebecca'.
Veiled Rebecca (1801/1899) by G.M. BenzoniSalar Jung Museum
The Veiled Rebecca
This exquisite 'poem in marble' depicting the figure of Rebecca standing on a pedestal, is a testament to the neo-classical style of 19th-century Italian artist Giovanni Maria Benzoni (1809-1873).
A prime-minister's choice
Nawab Mir Turab Ali Khan, Salar Jung I, prime minister of Hyderabad state, acquired the sculpture when he visited Rome, Italy in 1876.
Salar Jung III with Nizam Mir Osman Ali KhanSalar Jung Museum
From palace to museum
The 'Veiled Rebecca' originally resided in the 'Dewan Deodi', the ancestral palace of the Salar Jung family in Hyderabad. This image shows Salar Jung III with the VIIth Nizam of Hyderabad and other nobles at the 'Ainakhana' of the palace. The 'Veiled Rebecca' is now in the new building of the museum since 1968.
Veiled Rebecca (1801/1899) by G.M. BenzoniSalar Jung Museum
The 'Veiled Rebecca' captures the moment before Rebecca reveals herself to Isaac. This neo-classical work reflects the popularity of veiled women as a motif in 19th-century art. Some sources attribute the sculpture to Giovanni Battista Benzoni, son of Giovanni Maria Benzoni.
Rebecca's head is bowed and her gaze is lowered as she secures her veil. A perfectly proportionate beauty, she stands enveloped in a transparent veil.
Her left hand is open, indicating a sign of welcoming; symbolising her new future with Isaac.
This exquisite marble sculpture captures Rebecca's elegance as she stands veiled. The delicate folds of her dress and her modest posture are rendered with remarkable precision and clarity.
Text and Curation: Soma Ghosh
Photography: M. Krishnamurthy and Bahadur Ali
Research Assistance: Dinesh Singh and E. Rajesh
Special thanks to : Shri Ashish Goyal, IIS, Director, Salar Jung Museum, Hyderabad, India.
Dr. G. Kusum, Curator, Salar Jung Museum, Hyderabad, India.
References –
1. salarjungmuseum.in (accessed 01.08.2024)
2. https://missionbibleclass.org/old-testament/part1(accessed 02.08.2024)
3. https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Rebekah (accessed 02.08.2024)
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