Plate 7: Joseph Making Himself Known to his Brothers, from Genesis 45, after a lost fresco in the basamento of Bay 7 of the Vatican Loggia
Original title: Plate 7: Joseph Making Himself Known to his Brothers, from Genesis 45, after a lost fresco in the basamento of Bay 7 of the Vatican Loggia
kurzbeschreibung
Between 1650 and 77, Pietro Santi Bartoli etched this print of the biblical moment when Joseph reveals his identity to his brothers. The model was a fresco in the Vatican Loggia that is now considered lost.
Description
On the left, donkeys and a horse stand among sacks; opposite them, at the right, six brothers kneel before Joseph, who is raised on a platform and lifts one hand as he speaks. Arches and a stretch of wall suggest the setting. Along the bottom runs a Latin inscription with the text from Genesis 45.
Context
The etching was made in the seventeenth century as a reproduction of a Vatican Loggia fresco attributed to Raphael and his workshop. Bartoli produced an entire series of prints after the Loggia frescoes. Because the original is lost, his engraving carries particular weight as a visual source.
Impact
The clear arrangement and Joseph's expressive gesture bring out the drama of the recognition. The calm architectural backdrop contrasts with the emotional encounter in the foreground. The overall impression is ceremonial and narrative.
Technique
In etching, lines are drawn through an acid-resistant ground on a metal plate and then bitten by acid. This yields fine, precise lines that capture details of figures and architecture. At roughly 9 × 24 cm, the sheet is narrow and strongly elongated.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)