This archive is to honor Joseph's life, the earthly father of Jesus Christ. This curation shows Joseph from different cultural perspectives, as he shows his fatherly love and relationship daily to his child, Christ. Sometimes Joseph is depicted in the corner or off to the side. The Joseph of the New Testament Bible is a unique character that rarely gets much attention. Many times he is not shown at all. These collected images portray him in a full variety of perspectives. He was a man of faith that was the earthly father of Jesus Christ and husband to Mother Mary. Stories are few, and modern preaching speaks little of this man. He was a man of faith, more than most, as the main story of the angels coming to tell him that he must choose to stay with Mary. Surrounding perceptions would be that she was pregnant from someone else. This takes a lot of faith to believe something that's never happened before, not even once in history. We honor his life through these curated images depicting Joseph's life with Christ and Mary.
Watch
ca. 1645–50
Watchmaker: Jacques Goullons French
This small painted watch was painted with precision. Here the watchmaker has shown the story of Joseph being “woke” by an angel to tell of the amazing good news of his new son. Little does Joseph know of the full story, unfolding in front of him. He must trust this angel that has awoken him from sleep. Joseph might be confused if what he is hearing and seeing is still his dream. This pocket watch is a beautiful constant reminder to the owner of Christ's story, dead to our sins, we are awakened to the life and love of Jesus, like Joseph is by the angel.
On the watch face he appears to be in Athens Greece. He is fully draped, and so is the angel. This is the beginning of Joseph's story. As the soon to be father of the Christ king Joseph’s being lightly touched from a peaceful rest on this bright beautiful day to start a new chapter in his life.
On the watch face he appears to be in Athens Greece. He is fully draped, and so is the angel. This is the beginning of Joseph's story. As the soon to be father of the Christ king Joseph’s being lightly touched from a peaceful rest on this bright beautiful day to start a new chapter in his life.
Object Details
Title:Watch
Maker:Watchmaker: Jacques Goullons (French, active Paris, 1626–died 1671)
Date:ca. 1645–50
Culture:French, probably Paris
Medium:Case and dial: painted enamel on gold with brass hand; Movement: gilded brass and partly blued steel
Dimensions:Diameter (case): 2 3/8 in. (6 cm); Diameter (back plate): 1 15/16 in. (4.9 cm)
Classification:Horology
Credit Line:Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1917
The Marriage of the Virgin
ca. 1430
Michelino da Besozzo (Michelino de Mulinari) Italian
This is a special time in Joseph's life. In this painting Joseph is showing faith over the situation. He stands besides Mary as they get married, but he's in an awkward situation, as people learn that Mary’s pregnant. There is cultural shame placed upon Joseph and Mary because she’s a virgin and they are not having premarital sex. We see people looking around this cramped scene with a varying amount of reactions from people, even some humorous reactions. This is a unique image of Joseph. Joseph shows a step of faith shown in this painting.
This is a special time in Joseph's life. In this painting Joseph is showing faith over the situation. He stands besides Mary as they get married, but he's in an awkward situation, as people learn that Mary’s pregnant. There is cultural shame placed upon Joseph and Mary because she’s a virgin and they are not having premarital sex. We see people looking around this cramped scene with a varying amount of reactions from people, even some humorous reactions. This is a unique image of Joseph. Joseph shows a step of faith shown in this painting.
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Object Details
Title:The Marriage of the Virgin Artist:Michelino da Besozzo (Michelino de Mulinari) (Italian, Lombardy, active 1388–1450)
Date:ca. 1430
Medium:Tempera and gold on wood
Dimensions:25 5/8 x 18 3/4 in. (65.1 x 47.6 cm)
Classification:Paintings
Credit Line:Maitland F. Griggs Collection, Bequest of Maitland F. Griggs, 1943 Accession Number:43.98.7
The Nativity
ca. 1406–10
Lorenzo Monaco (Piero di Giovanni) Italian
The Nativity (ca. 1406–1410) painted by Lorenzo Monaco is a small 22.2 in × 31.1 in tempera on wood-panel painting. Lorenzo Monaco paints the picture that Jesus’s birth is the center of Heaven and earth. Mother Mary is looking at baby Jesus and has her body turned to Jesus. The animals’ heads point to Jesus, and though Joseph’s body turns towards his head awkwardly looks upward. Joseph is in the foreground, wearing a fine red robe and sits comfortably on a rock, seperate from the scene. Joseph wears a 2D jeweled halo crown around his head. We can barely see his face.
With Joseph’s back to us, we focus on Jesus. Lorenzo’s use of a gold-colored crown on Jesus, the centered placement of Jesus as the central figure with directional lines, specific subject matter all support Jesus’s glory and primary focus in the narrative, while Joseph sits back to watch.
The Nativity (ca. 1406–1410) painted by Lorenzo Monaco is a small 22.2 in × 31.1 in tempera on wood-panel painting. Lorenzo Monaco paints the picture that Jesus’s birth is the center of Heaven and earth. Mother Mary is looking at baby Jesus and has her body turned to Jesus. The animals’ heads point to Jesus, and though Joseph’s body turns towards his head awkwardly looks upward. Joseph is in the foreground, wearing a fine red robe and sits comfortably on a rock, seperate from the scene. Joseph wears a 2D jeweled halo crown around his head. We can barely see his face.
With Joseph’s back to us, we focus on Jesus. Lorenzo’s use of a gold-colored crown on Jesus, the centered placement of Jesus as the central figure with directional lines, specific subject matter all support Jesus’s glory and primary focus in the narrative, while Joseph sits back to watch.
Object Details
Title: The Nativity
Artist: Lorenzo Monaco (Piero di Giovanni) (Italian, Florence (?) ca. 1370–1425 Florence (?)) Date: ca. 1406–10
Medium: Tempera on wood, gold ground Dimensions:8 3/4 x 12 1/4 in. (22.2 x 31.1 cm)
Classification: Paintings
Credit Line: Robert Lehman Collection, 1975 Accession Number:1975.1.66
The Holy Family with Angels
ca. 1700
Sebastiano Ricci
Object Details:
The Holy Family with Angels
ca. 1700
Sebastiano Ricci Italian
The Holy Family with Angels
ca. 1700
Sebastiano Ricci
“The Holy Family” is a common unifying term for the three; Mother Mary, Christ, and Joseph. It's not always common to see Joseph and here Joseph appears as a shadowed figure. Joseph is depicted as an older father here, appearing much more like a grandfather. He has a full grey beard, going bald and wearing glasses. He's looking down, studying a book intently. They are again painted as Greek and in a garden. Mother Mary interacts with some angels admiring Christ asleep in her arms. The family is all draped like Grecians. It's an intimate and darker day. Joseph recedes into the darkness, while Mary, Christ and the angels are bright enough to gain the viewers attention.
Object Details:
The Holy Family with Angels
ca. 1700
Title:The Holy Family with Angels
Artist:Sebastiano Ricci (Italian, Belluno 1659–1734 Venice)
Date:ca. 1700
Medium:Oil on canvas
Dimensions:50 x 45 1/2 in. (127 x 115.6 cm)
Classification:Paintings
Credit Line:Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Piero Corsini, 1986
Circumcision of Jesus in the Temple
18th century
Southern German
This is a unique scene of Joseph, let alone anyone, but a real day in life. We can see a ritual of the jewish tradition take place here as cleanliness is important to the Jewish tradition. We see a soon to be crying child. Joseph brings baby Jesus to the table where a Jewish priest will cut off Jesus’ foreskin. The scene is a flat gouche cutout, and small. It seems like a clean and quiet time. Christ is radiant and smiling. He is being offered to the priest. Mother Mary stands close to the left of Joseph holding her heart, out of frame. The people don't look specific but the content and event are once in a lifetime. Joseph undergoes a not so fun time with his child, yet the important traditions of the Old Testament continue into this event, with Joseph taking center stage with Jesus.
Title:Circumcision of Jesus in the Temple
Date:18th century
Culture:Southern German
Medium:Gouache on paper
Dimensions:Height (approximate): 4 in. (10.2 cm)
Classification:Paper
Credit Line:Gift of Loretta Hines Howard, 1964
Accession Number:64.164.367–.369Title:The Holy Family with Angels
Artist:Sebastiano Ricci (Italian, Belluno 1659–1734 Venice)
Date:ca. 1700
Medium:Oil on canvas
Dimensions:50 x 45 1/2 in. (127 x 115.6 cm)
Classification:Paintings
Credit Line:Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Piero Corsini, 1986
Accession Number:1986.347
Virgin and Child with Saint Joseph
second half 16th century
Netherlandish Painter, second half of 16th century Netherlandish
Joseph has had many depictions of him, some flattering and some not so flattering. Here we find him in the middle. He's not too old or too young. He looks like your average jewish uncle, taking care of his wife in the city. They enjoy a humble dinner together, again not in Jerusalem or anywhere near. The artist has brought Joseph Christ and Mary to the Netherlands. Joseph looks noble, wearing a monk's red garment, prepping the food on the table. He's starting to lose hair on his head, but not showing wrinkles on his face. Perhaps this 50 years old man is having another normal day.
Joseph has had many depictions of him, some flattering and some not so flattering. Here we find him in the middle. He's not too old or too young. He looks like your average jewish uncle, taking care of his wife in the city. They enjoy a humble dinner together, again not in Jerusalem or anywhere near. The artist has brought Joseph Christ and Mary to the Netherlands. Joseph looks noble, wearing a monk's red garment, prepping the food on the table. He's starting to lose hair on his head, but not showing wrinkles on his face. Perhaps this 50 years old man is having another normal day.
Object Details:
Title:Virgin and Child with Saint Joseph Artist:Netherlandish Painter, second half of 16th century
Date:second half 16th century
Medium:Oil on oak panel Dimensions:8 3/4 x 8 11/16 in. (22.3 x 22 cm)
Classification:Paintings
Credit Line:Robert Lehman Collection, 1975 Accession Number:1975.1.121
Saint Joseph and the Christ Child
second half 17th century
Attributed to Nicolaas van der Veken
This presentation of Saint Joseph as he and Jesus walk reminds the viewer that life happened beyond the big story and that life was full of small events to be enjoyed. This is from the baroque era when Jesuits encouraged artists to convey the earthly father as a peaceful active parent for husbands and fathers to model. We see something often not remembered, small events in life, frozen in time, removed from jewish biblical associations and reappropriated for the Dutch audience, by wearing dutch clothes. This creates a feeling of Christ being close to home. The artist imagines Christ as our own child in the day to day experiences.This is a flattering image of Joseph looking well dressed, caring, loving and idyllic.
Object Details:
Title:Saint Joseph and the Christ Child Artist:
Attributed to Nicolaas van der Veken (Flemish, Mechelen 1637–1709 Mechelen)
Date:second half 17th century Culture:Flemish, Malines (Mechelen)
Medium:Boxwood
Dimensions:Overall: 10 11/16 × 4 13/16 × 2 5/16 in. (27.1 × 12.2 × 5.9 cm)
Classification:Sculpture-Miniature Credit Line:Rogers Fund, 1971
I thought it was very interesting how Joseph is often depicted in the background, while Mary and Baby Jesus are shown more prominently. I can understand why, since the artists wanted to showcase Jesus, but I think it is a good thing to remember his faith like this exhibition does.
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