Stories of Joseph: Joseph Sold by His Brothers

In 1515 the Florentine Salvi Borgherini commissioned a bedroom for the marriage of his son Pierfrancesco to Margherita Acciaiuoli. Andrea del Sarto, Pontormo and Granacci all painted for it. Bachiacca contributed six scenes from the story of Joseph. This one was set into the base of the marriage bed. Joseph, in pink with a green cloak, is being led away by the traders his brothers sold him to. Far back on the rocky road a group follows with a donkey, one man in a broad straw hat. In 1529 a dealer buying art for King Francis I of France tried to have the room's panels taken out. Margherita sent him away, telling him this was the bed of her own wedding. Her heirs later let the ensemble be broken up, and by 1650 this panel was recorded in the Borghese collection in Rome.