Jacob and Rachel

The Romanelli were a family of highly prolific sculptors in Florence during the 19th century. Born in 1856, Raffaelo Romanelli (d.1928), the son of Pasquale, exhibited in the major Italian salons as well as in Paris and London. The workshop of Raffaelo and his son Romano continued the lofty reputation first established by Pasquale. Raffaello's chief works are the equestrian statue of Garibaldi in Siena, and the Charles Albert monument in the Quirinal, Rome. His works, mainly genre, historical and classical scenes, can now be found in museums such as the Palazzo Pitti in Florence.
The scene from Genesis depicted here is the moment when Jacob met Rachel coming to water her father Laban's sheep. After removing the top from the mouth of the well, he kissed the graceful Rachel and was moved to tears. Romanelli first exhibited the group of Jacob and Rachel in Paris in 1888.