Joseph explains his dream to his brothers and father in an interior setting; the sun, moon, and stars above a landscape in the portal beyond, from the series 'The Story of Joseph'
1544
Medium
Engraving
Dimensions
sheet: 4 3/8 x 2 15/16 in. (11.1 x 7.5 cm)
Classification
Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Bequest of Phyllis Massar, 2011
Accession Number
2012.136.762.3
Tags
Art Historical Context
This delicate engraving by Georg Pencz captures a pivotal moment from the biblical story of Joseph, as recounted in Genesis. Created in 1544, the print shows Joseph recounting his prophetic dream his father Jacob and jealous brothers inside a modest interior, while the sun, moon, and stars gleam symbolically through an open portal overlooking a distant landscape. Pencz, a Nuremberg artist and member of the so-called “Little Masters,” specialized in such small-scale prints that brought scriptural narratives to a growing audience of private collectors. As an engraving, the work showcases the me...
About the Artist
Georg Pencz · 1490–1550
Comment on works: Religious; History; Portraits