Pharaoh with his Butler and Baker

This is one of the panels that decorated Pierfrancesco Borgherini’s bedroom in his palace in Florence. They tell the Old Testament story of Joseph and were probably originally set into furniture. Five other panels from the series are also in the National Gallery.

Joseph was his father’s favourite son with a coat of many colours, but he was sold into slavery by his jealous half-brothers and taken to Egypt. Bought by Potiphar, the head of Pharaoh’s guard, Joseph became overseer of Potiphar’s household. However, when he refused the sexual advances of Potiphar’s wife she falsely accused him of rape, and he was thrown into jail.

When in prison Joseph interpreted the dreams of Pharaoh’s butler and baker, who had been imprisoned for offending him. Joseph foresaw that the butler would be reinstated but the baker would be hanged. Here the baker is taken from prison (top right) and led to execution (right), while the butler is shown descending the staircase and serving Pharaoh (bottom left).

Text: © The National Gallery, London

Painting photographed in its frame by Google Arts & Culture, 2023.