Artwork Page for Plate 11: Joseph

Details / Information for Plate 11: Joseph

Series Title: The Twelve Sons of Jacob

Plate 11: Joseph

c. 1589

Jacob de Gheyn II

(Netherlandish, 1565–1629)
author

after Karel I van Mander

(Netherlandish, 1548–1606)
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Culture
Netherlands
Medium
engraving
Measurements
Platemark: 16 x 11 cm (6 5/16 x 4 5/16 in.)
Credit Line
Carole W. and Charles B. Rosenblatt Endowment Fund 2024.145.9
Public Domain
You can copy, modify, and distribute this work, all without asking permission. Learn more about CMA's Open Access Initiative.
Location
Not on view
Print
?

Did You Know?

The abundantly flowing fountain in this image may refer to Jacob’s blessing to his son Joseph that he would enjoy a double portion of inheritance.

Description

In this print, the biblical figure Joseph holds a bow next to a quiver of arrows, symbolizing God’s deliverance and protection of Joseph and his people. This is one of a series of prints depicting the twelve sons of Jacob, each with an attribute and costume that denotes his character. According to the Old Testament, Jacob blessed each of his twelve sons, prophesizing the destiny of their tribe, and assigning them a parcel of land in Canaan. The print series was made in the Netherlands in the late 16th century, a time of political struggle when Old Testament heroes were popular exemplars of fortitude and patience.
A vertically oriented engraving in black ink depicts Joseph as an older man with light skin, a beard, and a large turban. Shaded with fine cross-hatching and draped in fur-trimmed robes, he looks down, holding a curved bow and pointing with his right hand. A bundle of arrows rests on a table to our left; a fountain flows behind. An inset on our right shows a moon, stars, tree, and wheat. Latin text appears below.

Plate 11: Joseph

c. 1589

Jacob de Gheyn II, Karel I van Mander

(Netherlandish, 1565–1629), (Netherlandish, 1548–1606)
Netherlands

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