Potiphar's Wife Accusing Joseph
Engraving
after 1512 (made)
after 1512 (made)
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
Like his contemporary, Albrecht Dürer, Lucas van Leyden was internationally recognised within his lifetime and beyond. Giorgio Vasari, writing in 1568, praised Leyden's fine engraving style and his use of perspective. Fine quality early impressions of his prints are rare. Copper printing plates are capable of producing only one or two hundred fine impressions before the plate starts to wear down, especially with a fine line engraving style as Leyden's. Such was Leyden's reputation and his prints so sought by collectors that his original printing plates were kept and impressions taken from them long after his death, resulting in a larger number of surviving poor and worn impressions than fine ones. Numerous copies were also made from his originals, which satisfied demand when originals were not available or affordable and for collectors of images interested more in subject matter.
Object details
Categories | |
Object type | |
Titles |
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Materials and techniques | Engraving in ink on paper |
Brief description | Engraving, Potiphar's Wife Accusing Joseph, from a series of five prints entitled The story of Joseph, copy after Lucas Hugensz van Leyden (called Lucas Jacobsz). |
Physical description | The scene takes place at the entrance to a building. Potiphar's wife kneels on the floor before her husband. Behind her are servants, two women and a man, the latter wearing a horizontally stripped over-tunic. One man (Potiphar himself?) holds a scroll. Behind to the right are several men. All are dressed in various styles of hats, some with feathers, some turbans, and costumes consisting of long tunics, cloaks and cloth boots. In the background is a castle and the sun is setting behind this giving off rays which completely cover the sky. |
Dimensions |
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Style | |
Production type | Copy |
Marks and inscriptions |
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Subjects depicted | |
Literary reference | Genesis 39:7-20 |
Summary | Like his contemporary, Albrecht Dürer, Lucas van Leyden was internationally recognised within his lifetime and beyond. Giorgio Vasari, writing in 1568, praised Leyden's fine engraving style and his use of perspective. Fine quality early impressions of his prints are rare. Copper printing plates are capable of producing only one or two hundred fine impressions before the plate starts to wear down, especially with a fine line engraving style as Leyden's. Such was Leyden's reputation and his prints so sought by collectors that his original printing plates were kept and impressions taken from them long after his death, resulting in a larger number of surviving poor and worn impressions than fine ones. Numerous copies were also made from his originals, which satisfied demand when originals were not available or affordable and for collectors of images interested more in subject matter. |
Associated object | E.765-1885 (Version) |
Bibliographic references |
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Other number | Bartsch 21 |
Collection | |
Accession number | E.763-1885 |
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Record created | September 23, 2008 |
Record URL |
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