Artwork
Joseph sold by his brothers
Joseph sold by his brothers is an unspecified painting by Master of Affligem. It dates from 1510 and is held in the collection of the Gemäldegalerie Berlin. Created around 1510, this panel portrays the biblical moment when Joseph’s brothers betray him by selling him into slavery.
About this work
Overview
Created around 1510, this panel portrays the biblical moment when Joseph’s brothers betray him by selling him into slavery. Executed by the anonymous South Netherlandish artist known as the Master of Affligem, the work belongs to the Northern Renaissance tradition, emphasizing intricate storytelling and vivid human expression.
Subject & Meaning
The composition captures the dramatic episode from Genesis in which Joseph’s brothers gather to barter his fate. The figures are arranged in a semi‑circular group, suggesting a communal decision, while the varied gestures convey tension and moral conflict inherent in the narrative.
Technique & Style
Rendered with the fine detail characteristic of early 16th‑century Netherlandish painting, the artist employs a rich palette of saturated fabrics and carefully modeled faces. Landscape elements such as rolling hills, trees, and distant livestock provide depth, while the meticulous rendering of clothing and accessories reflects contemporary fashion.
History & Provenance
The painting is attributed to the Master of Affligig, an unidentified painter active in Brussels between roughly 1470 and 1500. The artist’s oeuvre was first grouped by Walter Friedländer in 1923, who recognized a series of works focusing on Saint Joseph’s life, of which this piece is a part.
Context
During the early 1500s, Netherlandish workshops produced narrative cycles for devotional use, often illustrating Old Testament stories that paralleled Christian themes. This work fits within that tradition, offering a visual meditation on betrayal, providence, and redemption that resonated with contemporary viewers.
Artist & collection
Artist
The Master of Affligem or Master of the Joseph Sequence (working c. 1470–1500) was an accomplished painter of the South Netherlandish school, apparently working in Brussels, whose name is not known, but whose hand can…
