Joseph Accused by Potiphar's Wife

Joseph Accused by Potiphar's Wife

The story of Joseph and Potiphar's wife is told in the first

book of the Bible, Genesis, chapter 39. Joseph was sold into

slavery by his brothers and bought by Potiphar, a high ranking

official in the Pharaoh's service.   "The Lord was with Joseph,"

and gave him success in everything he did.   This pleased Potiphar

and before long Joseph was given the highest position in the

household, and left in charge when Potiphar was away.   Now

Potiphar's wife found Joseph to be very good looking and had

approached him several times saying "come to bed with me;" and

Joseph being a man of God would not sin against his master or the

Lord, so he refused her.   One day when all the servants were

gone, Joseph entered the house and Potiphar's wife approached him

and while holding on to his cloak said "come to bed with me".

Joseph refused and left the house leaving his cloak behind.

Potiphar' Wife screamed for help saying that Joseph had attacked

and tried to sleep with her.   When her husband came home she told

him the same false story. Potiphar was so angry at Joseph he had

him locked up in Pharaoh's prison. "But while Joseph was in the

prison, the Lord was with him." This is the subject matter for

which Rembrandt choose to do his representational painting by.

The content of the painting all reveals Rembrandt's

interpretation of the story



    This is the account from the Bible of the accusation of

Joseph by Potiphar's Wife.   Rembrandt Van Ryn chose this

particular story as the subject of his narrative painting

completed in 1655, under the title of "Joseph Accused By

Potiphar's Wife".   Before researching this painting, I noted my

fist perception of Rembrandt work of art.   I realized through

that as a result of my later research, my first perception did

not change, but instead were enriched and enlarged by a newfound

understanding of the man and his art.   I largely concentrated on

my first and later perceptions in the design elements and

principles...