The Dream of Saint Joseph

Gerard Seghers was one of the most successful masters of the baroque school of painting in Antwerp. Caravaggio was his first great example. In The Dream of St Joseph we can still see this influence, for example in the figure of Joseph and the realistically painted still life with candle and book in the lower right-hand corner. However, the floating…

Gerard Seghers was one of the most successful masters of the baroque school of painting in Antwerp. Caravaggio was his first great example. In The Dream of St Joseph we can still see this influence, for example in the figure of Joseph and the realistically painted still life with candle and book in the lower right-hand corner. However, the floating angel and the use of colour and light indicate the growing influence of Rubens. The painting comes from the former church of the monastery of the Recollects in Ghent. It is one of the five paintings by Seghers on this subject that have been preserved: an angel warns Joseph of the approaching danger of Herod’s murderous plans and urges him to flee to Egypt with Mary and the Child.