Optical Print of Joseph Interpreting Pharaoh’s Dreams, circa 1770 – Hand-Colored Vue d’Optique by Georg Balthasar Probst
This impressive hand-colored *vue d’optique*, titled "Josephus explicatis Pharaoni somniis, ad honorum gradus elevatur" (Joseph interprets Pharaoh’s dreams and is elevated to honor), illustrates the dramatic moment from Genesis chapter 41 when Joseph rises from prisoner to high-ranking advisor by successfully interpreting the Pharaoh’s troubling dreams. This 18th-century optical print was produced in Augsburg around 1770 by renowned publisher Georg Balthasar Probst (1732–1801), one of the most prolific creators of such prints during the golden age of *vues d’optique*.
The scene is set in a grand palace hall rendered in classical architectural style, with a vaulted arcade, ornate columns, and checkerboard flooring...
Category
Mid-18th Century Antique German Wall Decorations