#bacchiaca

The painting in question represents the arrest of Simeon, one of Jacob’s twelve sons. The protagonist is portrayed wearing a pink cloak and a broad-brimmed straw hat as several soldiers lead him to an underground cell. According to the Biblical narration, Simeon and his brothers were unjustly accused of stealing a cup after they arrived in Egypt to escape a terrible famine. In reality, the theft was ably staged by the local viceroy Joseph: sold into slavery many years before by his brothers, Joseph wished to pay them back for their action; by having one of them arrested, he further forced the others to bring his beloved brother Benjamin to Egypt.