Joseph Interprets the Dreams in Prison

Series Title: The Story of Joseph

1512

after Lucas van Leyden

(Netherlandish, 1494–about 1533)

Culture

Netherlands, 16th century

Medium

engraving

Measurements

Sheet: 13 x 16.9 cm (5 1/8 x 6 5/8 in.)

Credit Line

Gift of Ralph King 1925.30

Catalogue raisonné

Hollstein 22 ; Bartsch VII.349.22; New Hollstein 22 (copy; undescribed)

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Location

Not on view

Description

In the book of Genesis, Joseph, a son of Jacob, is the model of a righteous man who overcomes adversity by following God. This scene shows how, imprisoned in Egypt, two fellow prisoners ask Joseph to interpret their dreams. On the right, we see the cupbearer’s dream, in which he squeezes grapes into the pharaoh’s cup to offer wine. Joseph interprets this to mean that the man will be released and restored to his former life. The baker’s dream, on the left, unfortunately has the opposite interpretation, leading to the man’s execution. According to Christian people, the wine and bread references also foretell Christ’s death and resurrection.