Laban Searching for His Stolen Gods1753 · Study 1965.548

Context from the museum

This painting is a sketch for a special competition in 1753 held by the Royal Academy in Paris. After the Grand Prix de Rome, the academy's top student prize, an unexpected vacancy in the school's branch in Rome required the academy to hold another contest. Saint-Aubin's oil sketch was well received and he won first place among three finalists. However, his final canvas, now in the Louvre, failed to garner him this distinguished award. Saint-Aubin eventually abandoned his goal of becoming a member of the Royal Academy and joined the less-prestigious Academy of St. Luke. The subject of Saint-Aubin's sketch, selected by the academy, comes from the Old Testament book of Genesis (31:33–35). 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.

Museum description reproduced from its CC0 open-access record. Read the original catalog entry.

Read the dimensions before the image

The selected unframed measurement for Laban Searching for His Stolen Gods is 57.3 cm wide and 45.6 cm high, equivalent to approximately 22.6 × 18.0 inches. Dividing width by height gives a format ratio of 1.26:1. The rectangular bounding area is 0.26 square meters; it describes the measured footprint, not the amount of paint or the monetary value.

On an illustrative 300 cm wall, the recorded width occupies 19.1% of the span before adding a frame. A centered placement leaves approximately 121.3 cm on each side before adding a frame. These are calculations by Physical Art For Crypto using museum measurements. They are not the museum’s display recommendations.

Questions to bring to your own collection

With Laban Searching for His Stolen Gods in view, identify one feature you can point to, then distinguish what the museum records from your personal response. Keep its medium, oil on canvas, in your notes when comparing contemporary works.

• Which part of this horizontal composition catches your eye first?
• Would a 57.3 cm width still suit the space after allowing for furniture and a frame?
• What surface detail would you need to see in person or in a close photograph?