Artwork
Joseph and Potiphar's Wife
Joseph and Potiphar's Wife is an oil painting by the High Baroque Italian artist Carlo Cignani. It dates from 1691 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The painting portrays the biblical moment when Joseph is tempted by Potiphar's wife, a scene that illustrates themes of temptation, virtue, and divine justice.
The painting portrays the biblical moment when Joseph is tempted by Potiphar's wife, a scene that illustrates themes of temptation, virtue, and divine justice. In the composition Joseph, clothed in simple robes, turns away from the seductive figure of Zulaikha, the wife of Potiphar, emphasizing his moral resolve. The work draws on traditional iconography of the Joseph cycle, where the encounter is rendered as a test of faith and integrity, reflecting Counter‑Reformation emphases on personal virtue amid worldly allure.
The painting’s narrative underscores the tension between sensual temptation and spiritual fidelity, resonating with contemporary religious audiences seeking moral exempla.
Technique & Style
Carlo Cignani executed Joseph and Potiphar's Wife in oil paint on canvas in 1681. The painting measures 900 cm in height and 1125 cm in width. Its large scale and oil-on-canvas medium are consistent with the conventions of Italian Baroque religious painting of the period.
The work depicts the biblical narrative of Joseph and Potiphar's wife (also identified as Zulaikha), a subject drawn from religious art tradition.
History & Provenance
Carlo Cignani executed the oil painting Joseph and Potiphar's Wife in 1681. Created on canvas, the work depicts the biblical narrative of Joseph and Zulaikha. The painting currently resides in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst, where it is held as part of their religious art holdings.
No specific details regarding the original commission or intermediate ownership history prior to its arrival at the museum are provided in the available records.
Overview
Carlo Cignani’s oil painting Joseph and Potiphar’s Wife was completed in 1691. Executed within the High Baroque idiom of Italy, the canvas presents a moment from the biblical narrative in which Joseph resists the advances of Potiphar’s wife, Zulaikha. The work is part of the permanent collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.
Artist & collection
Artist
Carlo Cignani (Italian pronunciation:; 15 May 1628 – 8 September 1719) was an Italian painter.
