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The Story of Joseph

Not on view
In a succession of episodes, marked with the names of the chief characters, the painting illustrates the biblical story of Joseph (Genesis 37,39,42-27). In the background to the left is the sale into slavery of Joseph to Potiphar; Joseph fleeing the seductive advances of Potiphar's wife; and his subsequent imprisonment. In the foreground on the right is the dream of the Pharoah and Joseph interpreting it, and, on the left, Joseph greeting his father and kinsmen on their arrival in Egypt.

A companion panel (J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles) shows earlier episodes of the story, before Joseph was sold into slavery in Egypt. The panels originally were installed in the wainscoting of a bedroom, and date from about 1482.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: The Story of Joseph
  • Artist: Biagio d'Antonio (Italian, Florentine, active by 1472–died 1516)
  • Medium: Tempera on wood
  • Dimensions: 27 x 59 in. (68.6 x 149.9 cm)
  • Classification: Paintings
  • Credit Line: The Friedsam Collection, Bequest of Michael Friedsam, 1931
  • Object Number: 32.100.69
  • Curatorial Department: European Paintings

More Artwork

More Artwork
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Scenes from the Story of the Argonauts, Biagio d'Antonio Italian, Tempera on wood, gilt ornaments
Scenes from the Story of the Argonauts
Biagio d'Antonio
Portrait of a Young Man, Biagio d'Antonio Italian, Tempera on wood
Portrait of a Young Man
Biagio d'Antonio
probably ca. 1470
Three Miracles of Saint Zenobius, Botticelli (Alessandro di Mariano Filipepi) Italian, Tempera on wood
Three Miracles of Saint Zenobius
Botticelli (Alessandro di Mariano Filipepi)
ca. 1500
Portrait of a Woman with a Man at a Casement, Fra Filippo Lippi Italian, Tempera on wood
Portrait of a Woman with a Man at a Casement
Fra Filippo Lippi
ca. 1440
Federico Gonzaga (1500–1540), Francesco Francia Italian, Tempera on wood, transferred from wood to canvas and then again to wood
Federico Gonzaga (1500–1540)
Francesco Francia
1510

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