Peter von Cornelius (1783–1867), Joseph interprets the dreams of the Pharaoh, 1816–1817

As a reaction against Neoclassicism the artists of the Lukasbund, later known as the Nazarene movement, aimed for a renewal of German art by means of artistic cooperation and a focus on Christian and national motifs. Artists of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, such as Albrecht Dürer (1471–1528) or Hans Holbein the Younger (1465–1524), served as models for the Nazarene artists. In 1810 they moved to Rome where they also finished one of their main works, the fresco series at the Casa Bartholdy (in 1887 moved to the Alte Nationalgalerie, Berlin) depicting scenes from the story of Joseph from the first Book of Moses in the Old Testament. Peter von Cornelius' (1783–1867) version shows Joseph interpreting the dreams of the Pharaoh.

Peter von Cornelius (1783–1867), Joseph deutet die Träume des Pharao, fresco with tempera, 246 x 331 cm, 1816–1817, photographer: Andres Kilger; source: © Nationalgalerie der Staatlichen Museen zu Berlin - Preußischer Kulturbesitz, Ident.Nr. A I 419 (05), Creative Commons Namensnennung-Nicht-kommerziell-Weitergabe unter gleichen Bedingungen 3.0 Deutschland Lizenz.