Joseph and Potiphar's wife, within an ornate frame 1739

Pietro Monaco's 1739 etching "Joseph and Potiphar's wife" is a Baroque-style engraving that depicts the Biblical story of Joseph resisting the advances of Potiphar's wife. This intricate artwork, housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, features a dramatic central scene surrounded by an ornate frame decorated with cherubs and floral motifs. Monaco was a Venetian artist whose work often explored themes of classical literature and the Bible. The print's title, "Giuseppe Sollecitato dalla Moglie di Puttefare" (Joseph Tempted by Potiphar's Wife), is inscribed beneath the main scene, further emphasizing the narrative's focus on temptation and virtue. The composition, characterized by dramatic gestures and expressive figures, is typical of the Baroque style that was prevalent in Venice during the 18th century.