Art Institute of Chicago

Joseph Explaining his Dreams

Nicolas Beatrizet (French, 1515-1565)

Date

1541

Medium

Engraving on paper

Culture

France

Department

Prints and Drawings

Institution

Art Institute of Chicago

Raphael’s fresco from the Vatican Loggia represents an Old Testament narrative from Genesis 37, in which Joseph, the youngest and favorite son of Jacob, ill-advisedly told his 11 brothers about his dreams: in the two hovering circles, 11 sheaves of wheat, representing the other brothers, bow down to Joseph’s sheaf; then even the sun, moon, and stars bow to Joseph. Joseph’s jealous siblings sold him into slavery in Egypt, where he impressed Pharaoh with the same prophetic gifts, saving the realm from a famine. Coming to Egypt to beg for food, Joseph’s impoverished brothers eventually bowed down to him as he had foreseen.

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