The Angel Appearing to Joseph
ca. 1780–1805
Classification
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Bequest of George Campbell Cooper
Accession Number
1896-3-363
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
"The Angel Appearing to Joseph" captures a pivotal biblical moment in which an angel visits Joseph in a dream, offering divine guidance and reassurance. Created by British artist Richard Dighton between roughly 1780 and 1805, this print reflects the enduring appeal of scriptural narratives in late eighteenth- and early nineteenth-century visual culture. Dighton, best known for his lively portraits and caricatures, here turns his hand to a more solemn religious subject, demonstrating the breadth of themes that circulated through printmaking during his era. As a work now held in the Smithsonian...