The biblical account of the meeting of Rachel and Jacob at the well is told in Genesis 29: 9-12. Jacob was the son of Isaac and Rebecca. After stealing the blessing destined for his brother Esau, Jacob took refuge with his mother’s brother, Laban. He encountered Laban’s second daughter, Rachel, while she was watering her father’s sheep at a well. Jacob (shown in the centre, with a plumed cap) was instantly struck by Rachel’s beauty and assisted her by moving the stone from the mouth of the well (shown at right on this fan leaf). After working for Laban for seven years in order to win the hand of Rachel in marriage, Jacob was duped into marrying her elder sister, Leah. When he protested, Laban gave him Rachel as his second wife, but required Jacob to work for a further seven years.

The finely painted main scene is probably the work of an Italian artist, working either in Italy or in England. The floral decoration on the reserves and upper and lower edges appears to have been added by an English artist. The painting on the verso is also occasionally of unusually high quality. In addition, the carving of the ivory guards and sticks is very fine, something which would have appealed to Queen Mary, who received the fan as a wedding present in 1893.

Text adapted from Unfolding Pictures: Fans in the Royal Collection 2005