Joseph und Potiphars Weib

Having been sold by his brothers, Joseph fell into the hands of Potiphar, a high-ranking officer of the Pharaoh (Genesis 39:1). Potiphar’s wife took a liking to the young man. One day she grabbed hold of him and pulled him towards her but he slipped out of his robe and escaped. She called her servants, showed them Joseph’s garment and accused him of harassing her. Potiphar had Joseph thrown into prison. The painting is one of a series of six circular works (Gemäldegalerie/SMPK, Berlin; Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York).