Lot 92

Private collection, Victoria

Although no connection between the present sheet and a painting by Rottenhammer has been identified, it does seem highly likely that the scene portrayed by the artist is that of the Old Testament story of Joseph being sold into slavery by his brothers. Such was the jealousy they had for Joseph that when the opportunity arose, his brothers decided to leave him in a cistern in the wilderness to an almost certain death. Just as they were about to abandon him a camel train of Ishmaelite traders appeared, heading for Egypt. The solution of selling their brother into slavery seemed to sit better with the brothers, who in the present work can be seen receiving twenty shekels of silver from the Ishmaelites, as Joseph pleads in vain to be released.