CARLO FRANCESCO NUVOLONE
(Milan, 1608 - 1661)
Rachel hides the idols
Oil on canvas cm 108x145
Bibliography:
F.M.Ferro. Carlo Francesco Nuvolone. "Fragments of a loving discourse" in Tactile Values 2.13, Felici Editori srl, Ghezzano, p.97, fig 4a
Carlo Francesco and Giuseppe Nuvolone. Traces of Lombard beauty, Paulo Maiora Canamus, 1, edited by F. Ceretti, Milan 2023, page 16, fig. 9
When Jacob fled with his family, his wife Rachel stole her father's idols. When Laban, Rachel's father, pursued Jacob and came to retrieve the idols, Rachel deceived him in order to not admit her guilt. It is not known exactly whether Rachel believed in these gods, or whether it represented the fact of being the heir of the family, but it is clear that Jacob understood that they had to be removed in order to worship the true God (Gen 35:2-4). In any case, Rachel was wrong both in stealing and carrying the idols (and neither action was approved by God), without Jacob's knowledge (Gen 31:32).
