Joseph and the Wife of Potiphar, 17th Century, Oil on Canvas, Framed

The gifted painter, a follower of Carlo Maratta, illustrates the biblical episode (Genesis, 39:2) in which Joseph, having become a trusted servant of Pharaoh`s officer, rejects the attentions of his wife by fleeing. The cloak, in the woman`s hands, will be the tangible proof of the false accusations made against Joseph, decreeing his sentence to prison. The most prevalent color in the painting is the very dark brown, almost black background. Out of this color emerge for luminosity the portrait of the girl enhanced even more by the light-colored dress and the color of her complexion. A strong contrast of brightness results between the girl’s figure and the dark background. The light comes from the left and directly illuminates the girl’s face, and that of the young Joseph. In addition, dark and deep shadows are created to the right of the figure. In fact, the shadow covers part of the young man’s body while the neck is almost dark except on the profile of the throat. There is a distinctive language in the painting, the result of the calibrated fusion of Baroque dynamism and Classical harmonies in vogue in the Marche region in the 17th century. Condition: Very good condition. Measurements: 160x122cm. Provenance: 17th-century Marche. Document: Certificate of Authenticity.