We don’t have an image of this object online yet. V&A Images may have a photograph that we can’t show online, but it may be possible to supply one to you. Email us at vaimages@vam.ac.uk for guidance about fees and timescales, quoting the accession number: E.764-1885
Find out about our images

Image of Gallery in South Kensington
Request to view at the Prints & Drawings Study Room, level H , Case 93, Shelf E, Box 111

Joseph Interpreting Pharoah's Dreams

Engraving
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
  • Joseph Interpreting Pharoah's Dreams (generic title)
  • The Story of Joseph (series title)
Materials and techniques
Engraving in ink on paper
Brief description
Engraving of Joseph Interpreting Pharoah's Dreams, from a series of five prints entitled The Story of Joseph, copy after Lucas Hugensz van Leyden (called Lucas Jacobsz).
Physical description
Joseph, bearfoot and wearing a tunic and carrying his feathered hat under his arm, kneels on the step to the left of a platform on which sits Pharoah at his dinner. Behind, looking through a window is a crowd of richly dressed people, all in hats and cloaks, some fur-lined. To the right a servant is pouring liquid into a bowl for Pharoah.
Dimensions
  • Max, cropped image height: 12.6cm
  • Max, cropped image width: 16.4cm
  • Mounted sideways on into volume, page size (when horizontal) height: 33cm
  • Mounted sideways on into volume, page size (when horizontal) width: 52cm
Style
Production typeCopy
Subjects depicted
Literary referenceGenesis 41:15-36
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.
Bibliographic references
  • Bartsch, Adam von. Le Peintre Graveur. Leipzig, J.A. Barth, 1854-1876.
  • The New Hollstein: Dutch & Flemish etchings, engravings and woodcuts, 1450-1700. Roosendaal. Koninklijke Van Poll in cooperation with the Rijksprentenkabinet, Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, 1993-
  • Cornelis, Bart and Jan Piet Filedt Kok. The taste for Lucas van Leyden prints. In: Simiolus - Netherlands Quarterly for the History of Art. 26: 1/2 (1998).
Other number
Bartsch 23
Collection
Accession number
E.764-1885

About this object record

Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.

You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.

Suggest feedback

Record createdSeptember 23, 2008
Record URL
Download as: JSON