Artwork

Joseph Crying in his Chamber after Having Seen his Brother Benjamin Again

Joseph Crying in his Chamber after Having Seen his Brother Benjamin Again is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Arent de Gelder. It dates from 1693 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

The subject draws from the Book of Genesis, illustrating the themes of reconciliation, forgiveness, and the resolution of long-standing familial conflict.

The painting depicts the biblical figure Joseph in a moment of private emotional release after reuniting with his brother Benjamin. As a work of religious art, the composition focuses on the specific narrative episode where Joseph, having revealed his identity to his brothers, withdraws to weep alone. The subject draws from the Book of Genesis, illustrating the themes of reconciliation, forgiveness, and the resolution of long-standing familial conflict.

By isolating Joseph in his chamber, the artist emphasizes the intensity of his personal grief and the weight of his past experiences with his siblings.

Technique & Style

Created in 1685, Joseph Crying in his Chamber after Having Seen his Brother Benjamin Again is an oil painting executed on a canvas support. The work measures 54.2 cm in height and 41.8 cm in width. As a religious genre piece by Arent de Gelder, the medium consists of oil paint applied to the fabric surface. The painting is currently held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.

History & Provenance

Created by Arent de Gelder in 1685, this oil-on-canvas painting depicts the biblical figure Joseph. The work is currently held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst. While the specific commission details and the full chain of ownership prior to its arrival at the museum are not detailed in the available records, the piece is firmly dated to the mid-1680s. The artwork measures 54.2 cm in height and 41.8 cm in width.

Overview

Arent de Gelder’s 1693 oil painting, Joseph Crying in his Chamber after Having Seen his Brother Benjamin Again, belongs to the Dutch Golden Age. Executed in the manner of Rembrandt’s later works, the canvas is part of the Statens Museum for Kunst’s collection.

Artist & collection

Artist

Arent de Gelder

Aert de Gelder (Dutch:; October 26, 1645 – August 27, 1727) was a Dutch painter, the only Dutch artist to paint in the tradition of Rembrandt's late style into the 18th century.