Joseph Interpreting the Dreams of Pharaoh

Attributed to Jörg Breu the Younger German

Not on view

This unfinished painting may have been conceived as part of a series devoted to the story of the Old Testament patriarch Joseph, who is seen here standing in a grand Renaissance palace, interpreting the dreams of Pharaoh (Genesis 41:14–36).
The materials and technique employed—a water-based medium on ungrounded fine-weave canvas, called by the German term Tüchlein—account for the picture’s subdued tonality and matte surface as well as its worn condition. Such Tüchlein offered a common lightweight and economical alternative to both large-scale panel paintings and tapestries, but their disadvantage was their susceptibility to deterioration and damage.

#2629. Joseph Interpreting the Dreams of Pharaoh

0:00
0:00
Joseph Interpreting the Dreams of Pharaoh, Attributed to Jörg Breu the Younger (German, Augsburg ca. 1510–1547 Augsburg), Distemper on linen

Due to rights restrictions, this image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

Open Access

As part of the Met's Open Access policy, you can freely copy, modify and distribute this image, even for commercial purposes.

API

Public domain data for this object can also be accessed using the Met's Open Access API.