Where can I see this painting?

This Pontormo panel is at the National Gallery in London. It's displayed alongside the artist's other panels from the Borgherini commission.

What scene does this show?

It depicts the moment Joseph reveals his identity to the brothers who sold him into slavery. Now a powerful Egyptian official, Joseph forgives them and arranges for his family to join him.

What style is this painting?

This is an early example of Mannerism, showing the transition from High Renaissance balance. Pontormo's elongated figures and artificial colors break classical rules.

Where Is Joseph Revealing Himself to His Brothers?

Pontormo completed this panel around 1516 as part of the celebrated Borgherini cycle depicting scenes from the life of Joseph. The painting shows the dramatic moment when Joseph, now a powerful Egyptian official, reveals his true identity to the brothers who had sold him into slavery years before. Their father Jacob believed Joseph dead, and this reunion would ultimately bring the entire family to Egypt.

The work belongs to a unique decorative ensemble commissioned by Salvi Borgherini for his son Pierfrancesco's bridal chamber in Florence. Several painters contributed to the cycle, including Andrea del Sarto, Granacci, and Bacchiacca, but Pontormo's panels are considered the most innovative. The crowded composition, artificial colors, and elongated figures mark the transition from High Renaissance to Mannerism.

It now hangs at the National Gallery in London, along with Pontormo's other Joseph panels. The Borgherini paintings were originally installed as decorative panels in wooden furniture, making their preservation as individual works notable.