Laban Searching for His Stolen Gods, 1753 (oil on canvas)

By Augustin de Saint-Aubin This painting is a sketch for a special competition in 1753 held by the Royal Academy in Paris. The subject of Saint-Aubin's sketch, selected by the academy, comes from the Old Testament book of Genesis. After toiling for Laban for 14 years, Jacob fled with his wife, Rachel, who was also Laban's daughter. Unbeknownst to Jacob, Rachel had stolen her father's idols before their departure to secure her right to her first born. Laban tracks down Jacob and Rachel and accuses them of carrying off his idols. Jacob is still unaware of Rachel's previous actions, and she has hidden the gods under a camel saddle on which she sits.