Ruth in the field of Boaz

This picture depicts the episode in the Book of Ruth in the Old Testament (Ruth 2, 1–13, 23) during which Ruth meets Boaz. According to the Holy Scriptures, Elimelek, his wife Naomi and their sons fled from famine in Israel to the flatlands of Moab. There, the sons married local women. Ten years later, Naomi and her Moabite daughter-in-law Ruth learned that the famine in Israel was over, and returned to Bethlehem. When Ruth arrived, she worked as hard as she could in order to provide for both women, in a country that was foreign to her. Once, when she was following the harvesters gleaning corn in a field, she was noticed by Boaz, the owner of the field. He was impressed by her hard work and her sense of duty to her poor mother-in-law, and allowed her to gather grain until the end of the harvest. Later, he married her. They had a son called Obed, who was the father of Jesse, and the grandfather of David.

The story is understood as an example of charity and of the kindness of Jews towards foreigners. However, usually the beauty and feminine modesty of the Moabite woman is highlighted in works of art. This picture by Kazimierz Alchimowicz (1840–1916) is an impressive rendering of Ruth’s confusion when she catches Boaz’s eye, and of his generosity, expressed by his kind gesture.

Text author Dalia Vasiliūnienė

Source: Law firm Valiunas Ellex art album HEAVEN AND BEYOND (2016). Compiler Dalia Vasiliūnienė. Text authors Dalia Vasiliūnienė, Skaidrė Urbonienė, RES PUBLICA (2018). Compiler and author Rūta Janonienė
Expositions: “Heaven and Beyond. Works of religious art from the collection of Rolandas Valiūnas and the law firm Valiunas Ellex“, 31 May–24 September 2016, Church Heritage Museum, Vilnius (curators Dalia Vasiliūnienė, Skaidrė Urbonienė); „Pagoniškos Lietuvos tapytojas Kazimieras Alchimavičius“, 2020 spalio 29 – 2020 lapkričio 6 d., Vilniaus paveikslų galerijoje (Didžioji g. 4, Vilnius). Parodos kuratorė Dalia Tarandaitė.

This picture depicts the episode in the Book of Ruth in the Old Testament (Ruth 2, 1–13, 23) during which Ruth meets Boaz. According to the Holy Scriptures, Elimelek, his wife Naomi and their sons fled from famine in Israel to the flatlands of Moab. There, the sons married local women. Ten years later, Naomi and her Moabite daughter-in-law Ruth learned that the famine in Israel was over, and returned to Bethlehem. When Ruth arrived, she worked as hard as she could in order to provide for both women, in a country that was foreign to her. Once, when she was following the harvesters gleaning corn in a field, she was noticed by Boaz, the owner of the field. He was impressed by her hard work and her sense of duty to her poor mother-in-law, and allowed her to gather grain until the end of the harvest. Later, he married her. They had a son called Obed, who was the father of Jesse, and the grandfather of David.

The story is understood as an example of charity and of the kindness of Jews towards foreigners. However, usually the beauty and feminine modesty of the Moabite woman is highlighted in works of art. This picture by Kazimierz Alchimowicz (1840–1916) is an impressive rendering of Ruth’s confusion when she catches Boaz’s eye, and of his generosity, expressed by his kind gesture.

Text author Dalia Vasiliūnienė

Source: Law firm Valiunas Ellex art album HEAVEN AND BEYOND (2016). Compiler Dalia Vasiliūnienė. Text authors Dalia Vasiliūnienė, Skaidrė Urbonienė, RES PUBLICA (2018). Compiler and author Rūta Janonienė
Expositions: “Heaven and Beyond. Works of religious art from the collection of Rolandas Valiūnas and the law firm Valiunas Ellex“, 31 May–24 September 2016, Church Heritage Museum, Vilnius (curators Dalia Vasiliūnienė, Skaidrė Urbonienė); „Pagoniškos Lietuvos tapytojas Kazimieras Alchimavičius“, 2020 spalio 29 – 2020 lapkričio 6 d., Vilniaus paveikslų galerijoje (Didžioji g. 4, Vilnius). Parodos kuratorė Dalia Tarandaitė.