Joseph Recounting his Dream to Jacob
Engraving
1667 (made)
1667 (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 |
|
Materials and techniques | Engraving in ink on paper |
Brief description | Engraving of Joseph Recounting his Dream to Jacob, from a series of five prints entitled The Story of Joseph, copy by G. Valck. after Lucas Hugensz van Leyden (called Lucas Jacobsz) in reverse; 1667. |
Physical description | In an interior, which has square pillars and an arched doorway with carved cupids over, Joseph stands before his father surrounded by his brothers. Jacob is seated on a cushion and chair and listens to the boy, and his wife stands just beside him (far left of the image), while the brothers talk to each other. Two more brothers are entering the room by the doorway at the back right of image, another stands with his arm around one of the pillars and another sits on the floor in the foreground with his arm on a ledge. Most of the brothers carry long sticks for their shepherding work and they are dressed in a variety of hats and headdresses and tunics, mostly knee-length, except for Jacob. This copy is in reverse. |
Dimensions |
|
Style | |
Production type | Copy |
Marks and inscriptions |
|
Subjects depicted | |
Literary reference | Genesis 37:1-11 |
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.911-1885 (Copy) |
Bibliographic references |
|
Other number | Bartsch 19 |
Collection | |
Accession number | E.767-1885 |
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
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
Record created | September 23, 2008 |
Record URL |
Download as: JSON