Artwork
Joseph Sold to the Ishmaelites
Joseph Sold to the Ishmaelites is an ink print by the Renaissance artist Augustin Hirschvogel. It dates from 1547 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
The painting shows a scene where Joseph is being sold to the Ishmaelites.
It's an etching from 1547.
The details in this work are interesting because they show a moment from a story in a simple way.
This moment is from the Bible.
The artist made this scene using lines and shapes to tell the story.
You can learn more about this technique by looking up the technique: etching.
Overview
Joseph Sold to the Ishmaelites is a 1547 etching by Augustin Hirschvogel, a German Renaissance artist with diverse expertise in etching, cartography, and mathematics. This print exemplifies the Danube School's style, though it deviates from the school's typical focus on landscape by depicting a biblical scene.
Subject & Meaning
The etching illustrates the biblical narrative of Joseph's betrayal, where he is sold into slavery by his brothers to the Ishmaelites, a pivotal moment in the Book of Genesis. The composition conveys this dramatic event through simplified, expressive forms.
Technique & Style
Executed in etching, the work showcases Hirschvogel's skill in leveraging lines and geometric shapes to narrate the scene. Characteristic of the medium, the etching's aesthetic is defined by its precise, linear quality, which effectively communicates the emotional intensity of the moment.
History & Provenance
Created in 1547, the etching is attributed to the Danube School, a 16th-century artistic movement in Bavaria and Austria. However, specific provenance details (ownership history) of *Joseph Sold to the Ishmaelites* are not provided in the available information.
Context
While the Danube School is notably recognized for its landscape etchings, *Joseph Sold to the Ishmaelites* stands out within Hirschvogel's oeuvre for its engagement with religious themes, highlighting the artist's versatility across subjects.
Legacy
The legacy of *Joseph Sold to the Ishmaelites* lies in its representation of Hirschvogel's technical proficiency in etching and its contribution to the broader corpus of 16th-century German religious art. Its enduring interest stems from the intersection of biblical narrative and early modern artistic technique.
Artist & collection
Artist
Augustin Hirschvogel (1503 – February 1553) was a German artist, mathematician, and cartographer known primarily for his etchings.
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