The Bible was a popular source for American sculptors in search of traditional, moralizing subject matter. Here, Ives features Rebecca, the future wife of Isaac, who proved her goodness by drawing water from the well for him. Many American sculptors rendered the subject, but Ives’s version became his most popular sculpture. To meet popular demand and varying price points, Ives reproduced versions in full scale, such as this example, but also in the less expensive bust format on view nearby.