The Story of Joseph
Medium
Tempera on wood
Dimensions
27 x 59 in. (68.6 x 149.9 cm)
Classification
Paintings
Department
European Paintings
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Friedsam Collection, Bequest of Michael Friedsam, 1931
Accession Number
32.100.69
Tags
Art Historical Context
Biagio d'Antonio's *The Story of Joseph*, a captivating tempera on wood panel from the late 15th century, brings to life key episodes from the biblical tale in the Book of Genesis. Measuring an expansive 27 x 59 inches, this horizontal composition likely served as a predella panel for an altarpiece or a decorative cassone (wedding chest) in Renaissance Florence, where such narrative cycles educated viewers on moral and religious stories. The painting teems with vivid figures—men, women, camels, dogs, and horses—evoking Joseph's journey from betrayal by his brothers to his rise in Egypt, render...