Bible in art · Genesis

Joseph Interpreting Pharaoh's Dreams

Lucas van Leyden · 1512
The Met, New York

Lucas van Leyden was about eighteen when he engraved this plate in 1512, one of a series on the story of Joseph. The sheet is only 16.5 cm wide, yet every fold of cloth and every fur trim is cut in fine lines.

Joseph kneels before Pharaoh, counting on his fingers as he explains the seven years. Pharaoh sits at a laid table with his hand on his chest, while courtiers in turbans and fur hats crowd behind a low wall to listen. A servant waits at the right with a plate.

From the text

Joseph brought from the prison to stand before Pharaoh (Genesis 41:14)
Seven years of plenty and seven of famine (Genesis 41:29–30)
Pharaoh’s officials listening (Genesis 41:37)

The artist’s own

Joseph counting the years on his fingers
Pharaoh at a dinner table, in a great turban
Courtiers in the hats and furs of Lucas’s own time
Joseph with a sword and a plumed hat, like a young nobleman

Details

Counting

Joseph kneels and counts on his fingers as he speaks.

Pharaoh

The king in a large turban, one hand on his chest, listens.

The table

A dish and a cup on a white cloth.

The court

Men in turbans and fur caps crowd behind a low wall.

A servant

A man in a short cloak stands holding a plate.

Monogram

Lucas’s letter “L” on the floor.

Lucas van Leyden, Netherlandish, Leiden ca. 1494–1533 Leiden. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York (Gift of Henry Walters, by exchange, 1931; acc. 31.31.29) · Engraving; first state · Public Domain — The Met Open Access (CC0). The Met Collection API record: "isPublicDomain": true; The Met marks such works on its website "with the Creative Commons Zero (CC0) icon".

The verses

Gen 41:14–16So Pharaoh sent for Joseph, who was quickly brought out of the dungeon. After he had shaved and changed his clothes, he went in before Pharaoh. Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I had a dream, and no one can interpret it. But I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it.” “I myself cannot do it,” Joseph replied, “but God will give Pharaoh a sound answer.”

Gen 41:25–32At this, Joseph said to Pharaoh, “The dreams of Pharaoh are one and the same. God has revealed to Pharaoh what He is about to do. The seven good cows are seven years, and the seven ripe heads of grain are seven years. The dreams have the same meaning. Moreover, the seven thin, ugly cows that came up after them are seven years, and so are the seven worthless heads of grain scorched by the east wind—they are seven years of famine. It is just as I said to Pharaoh: God has shown Pharaoh what He is about to do. Behold, seven years of great abundance are coming throughout the land of Egypt, but seven years of famine will follow them. Then all the abundance in the land of Egypt will be forgotten, and the famine will devastate the land. The abundance in the land will not be remembered, since the famine that follows it will be so severe. Moreover, because the dream was given to Pharaoh in two versions, the matter has been decreed by God, and He will carry it out shortly.

See it at the museum’s site