Rebecca At The Well
1869
Émile Vernet-Lecomte, hailing from a famous dynasty of French painters, serves up a classic slice of 19th-century Orientalism here. While the title identifies her as the biblical Rebecca waiting by the well, she strikes a pose that feels surprisingly modern—chin in hand, looking like she's waiting for a text message rather than her future husband Isaac. The incredibly smooth finish and that perfect, cloudless blue sky show off the Academic style, where looking almost photographic was the ultimate goal.