Isaac and Rebecca

Frans Floris was a leading Antwerp painter of the sixteenth century and one of the most important representatives of Northern Renaissance Mannerism. Trained in Antwerp and strongly influenced by Italian art, Floris helped introduce an Italianate, monumental style to the Southern Netherlands. His work is characterized by muscular figures, complex poses, rich color, and a strong interest in classical antiquity. Floris ran a very large and influential workshop in Antwerp (with up to 100 colaborators), producing altarpieces, mythological scenes, and biblical histories for both local and international patrons.

Rebecca is chosen as a wife for Isaac by Abraham’s servant, a choice that is not only practical but also spiritual in nature. When Isaac first meets her, he brings her into the tent of his mother Sarah, and the Bible explicitly states that “Isaac loved her.” This is remarkable, as it is one of the rare passages in Scripture where love within a marriage is clearly expressed.

Oil on panel, 61 x 56.5 cm