Design for Decorative Frieze with Joseph Interpreting His Dream to His Brothers
Medium
Pen and brown ink with brush and brown wash, over traces of graphite, on cream laid paper, laid down on cream laid paper
Dimensions
10.6 × 23.7 cm (4 3/16 × 9 3/8 in.)
Classification
ink with wash
Department
Prints and Drawings
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
95864
Art Historical Context
This delicate drawing, created by an artist in the circle of Giovanni Battista Castello, captures a pivotal moment from the biblical story of Joseph. In the scene, the young Joseph recounts his prophetic dreams to his brothers, a narrative rich with themes of jealousy, destiny, and reconciliation. Castello, a 16th-century Italian master known for his work in Genoa and Spain, specialized in elaborate decorative schemes for palaces and churches. Works from his circle often reflect the graceful figures and dynamic compositions of late Mannerism. Measuring just over nine inches wide, the sheet se...