Joseph Telling his Dreams

Rembrandt van Rijn (signed by artist), 1633

Using loose brushstrokes, Rembrandt sketched Joseph telling his dreams to his parents and brothers. That they do not believe him is clear from their poses and facial expressions. Rembrandt made this rough oil sketch as a preparatory study for a large print, which, however, was never executed. The fact that this study has been preserved is remarkable, since much working material was lost over the course of time.

  • Artwork typepainting, grisaille
  • Object numberSK-A-3477
  • Dimensionsheight 51 cm x width 39 cm, height 69 cm x width 55.9 cm, depth 4.5 cm
  • Physical characteristicsolieverf op papier op karton

Identification

  • Title(s)

    • Joseph Telling his Dreams to his Parents and Brothers (former title)
    • Joseph telling his dreams
    • Joseph Telling his Dreams
  • Object type

  • Object number

    SK-A-3477

  • Description

    Jozef vertelt zijn dromen aan zijn ouders en zijn broers. Staande bij een bed van zijn moeder Rachel vertelt Jozef zijn dromen aan zijn vader Jacob die voor het bed zit, links enkele van zijn broers die onder elkaar praten en wijzen. Rechts op de voorgrond een slapende hond.

  • Inscriptions / marks

    signature and date: ‘Rembrandt f 1633’


Creation

  • Creation

    painter: Rembrandt van Rijn (signed by artist)

  • Dating

    1633

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Material and technique

  • Physical description

    olieverf op papier op karton

  • Dimensions

    • height 51 cm x width 39 cm
    • height 69 cm x width 55.9 cm
    • depth 4.5 cm

This work is about

  • Subject


Acquisition and rights

  • Credit line

    Purchased with the support of the Vereniging Rembrandt and the Stichting tot Bevordering van de Belangen van het Rijksmuseum

  • Acquisition

    purchase 1946-09

  • Copyright

  • Provenance

    ...; ? estate inventory, Ferdinand Bol (1616-80), Amsterdam, 8 October 1669 ('daer Joseph den droom uytleijt, van Rembrant');{Bredius 1910, p. 234; Blankert 1982, p. 77.} ...; ? sale, Marie Joseph d'Hostun (1684-1755, Paris), Duc de Tallard, Paris (P. Remy and J.-B. Glomy), 22 March and 13 May 1756, no. 157 ('Rembrandt. Joseph qui raconte ses songes à son Père en présence de toute sa famille: grisaille d'un effet piquant, et qui vaut le Tableau le mieux colorié. Elle porte 19 pouces de haut, sur 15 pouces de large [51.3 x 40.5 cm]'), 329 livres to Remy; ...; ? sale, Armand Frédéric Ernest Nogaret (1734-1806, Paris), Paris (J.A. Lebrun), 18 March 1782 sqq., no. 51 ('Idem [Rembrandt]. Une esquisse peinte en grisaille sur papier, représentant l'enfant prodigue faisant ses adieux à sa famille; composition de dix figures et d'un bon effet. Hauteur 19 pouces, 14 p. [51.3 x 37.8 cm].'), 120 livres to Lebrun; ...; collection Jonkheer Hendrik Six (1790-1847), Lord of Hillegom, Amsterdam, 1836;{Smith VII, 1836, p. 7, no. 18.} his sons, Jan Pieter Six (1824-99), Lord of Hillegom and Pieter Hendrik Six (1827-1905), Lord of Vromade, Amsterdam; his son, Jonkheer Jan Willem Six (1872-1936), Lord of Vromade, The Hague (lent to the museum, April 1915 - March 1920, SK-C-1047); his sale, Amsterdam (F. Muller), 29 June 1920, no. 2, fl. 45,000, to August Wilhelm Volz (1873-1944), The Hague (lent to the museum, November 1931 - 9 May 1933, SK-C-1203);{For Volz's purchase of the painting at the Six sale see Hecht 2008, p. 212, note 29.} from whose estate, according to a clause in his will, fl. 50,000, to the Vereniging Rembrandt for the museum, with support from the Stichting tot Bevordering van de Belangen van het Rijksmuseum, September 1946


Documentation

  • The Rembrandt Database, Object information, Rembrandt, Joseph telling his dreams to his parents and his brothers, c. 1633, Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, inv. no. SK-A-3477, http://www.rembrandtdatabase.org/Rembrandt/painting/2911/joseph-telling-his-dreams-to-his-parents-and-his-brothers, accessed 2016 February 01


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