Laban Searching for his Idols (Genesis 31: 19-37)
Medium
Pen and brown ink, brown wash over faint traces of black chalk
Dimensions
13 x 8 1/4 in. (33 x 21 cm)
Classification
Drawings
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Bequest of Harry G. Sperling, 1971
Accession Number
1975.131.90
Tags
Art Historical Context
François Boucher, a leading figure of the 18th-century Rococo, captures a dramatic biblical moment in *Laban Searching for hisols* (Genesis 31:19-37). This scene depicts the patriarch Laban's frantic search for his stolen household idols—teraphim figures taken by his daughter Rachel during Jacob's flight. Boucher's interpretation infuses the Old Testament narrative with the playful elegance and dynamic energy characteristic of Rococo art, blending religious storytelling with theatrical flair. Children and men populate the composition, heightening the familial tension and human drama of the pur...
About the Artist
François Boucher · 1703–1770
François Boucher (1703–1770) stands as the quintessential master of French Rococo painting and the most celebrated decorative artist of the 18th century. Born in Paris to a lace designer, Boucher created a visual language that perfectly embodied the refined taste, sensuality, and elegance of Louis XV's court. His prolific output—encompassing paintings, tapestry designs, theatrical sets, and decora...