Artwork
Joseph sold by his brothers
Joseph sold by his brothers is an oil painting by the Early Baroque Italian artist Giovanni Maria Bottala. It dates from 1639 and is held in the collection of the Capitoline Museums.
About this work
Overview
Joseph Sold by His Brothers is a 1639 oil painting by Giovanni Maria Bottala, an Italian artist active during the Baroque period.
Subject & Meaning
The painting illustrates a scene from the biblical narrative of Joseph, depicting the moment when he is sold by his brothers. The figures are arranged around Joseph, who wears a green tunic, set against a backdrop of trees and a cloudy sky.
Technique & Style
The work showcases the artist's use of chiaroscuro, a technique that exploits strong contrasts between light and dark to create a dramatic effect. This stylistic choice heightens the tension in the scene, drawing attention to the figures and their interactions.
History & Provenance
Created in 1639, the painting is now part of the Capitoline Museums' collection. Bottala, trained under Pietro da Cortona in Rome and later supported by Cardinal Giulio Sacchetti, worked in various Italian cities, including Naples and Genoa.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Giovanni Maria Bottala (1613–1644) was an Italian painter active in the Baroque period.
La copa en el saco de Benjamín
Saint John the Baptist says goodbye to his Parents
The Finding of the Money in Benjamin's Sack
Visitation (Meeting of Mary and Elizabeth in the Presence of Saints Joseph and Jerome)
The Anointing of David
Saint John Baptizing in the River Jordan
Apostles finding a coin inside a fish (Matthew 17:27)
El mago descubre a Carlos y Ubaldo el paradero de Reinaldo (La búsqueda de Reinaldo)
Pylades and Orestes Brought as Victims before Iphigenia
Joseph's Brothers Find the Silver Goblet in Benjamin's Pack.