Bidspirit auction | A BIBLICAL ENGRAVING: JOSEPH AND

A BIBLICAL ENGRAVING: JOSEPH AND HIS BROTHERS WITH BENJAMIN, NORTHERN EUROPEAN, LATE 16TH–EARLY 17TH CENTURY - Engraving on laid paper, depicting the Old Testament story of Joseph in Egypt as recounted in Genesis 43–45. The scene shows Joseph, in classical attire, standing at left before an architectural setting, pointing toward his kneeling brothers who present themselves with gifts and with their youngest brother Benjamin. In the background, bustling figures and colonnades evoke an Egyptian court. The composition is inscribed below with a Latin couplet: ”Beniamin adducto repetunt cum munere Ioseph, Quos fratres tandem prodidit esse suos. Genef. 43, 24.” (”With Benjamin brought along, they again approached Joseph with gifts, whom at last he revealed to be their brother. Genesis 43:24.”) Numbered ”7” at lower center, indicating its place in a published sequence of Biblical illustrations, likely from a series after designs by Maarten de Vos (1532–1603) or a contemporary, and published in Antwerp in the late 16th or early 17th century by one of the great printmaking houses (e.g, . Sadeler, Galle, or de Passe families). Please make all inquiries before bidding. All lots are sold ”as-is”, refer to our T&C. Helios Auctions offers in-house shipping. In case we can not accommodate a shipping request, a list of additional shippers will be provided. Dimensions: 10 1/4 x 12 3/4 in., (26 x 23.5 cm.) Condition: Strong, clear impression with good contrast and crisp linework. Full to narrow margins. Trimmed close at top and bottom, but retaining the Latin text and plate mark. Small handling creases and minor edge wear, with slight soiling and foxing in the outer margins. A small pinhole at the upper right margin, away from the image. A fine and well-preserved example of an early Northern European Biblical engraving, suitable for study or framing.