Joseph sold by his Brethren

Alastair Laing has kindly confirmed the attribution of the drawing and dates it to the 1750s or 1760s, when Boucher produced several religious drawings as autonomous works. Boucher executed a number of versions of the subject: one was sold from the collection of M. Trouard, 22 February 1779, lot 74, and another, possibly the same that was in the Defer-Dumesnil sale, 10 May 1990, lot 119, A. Ananoff, L'Oeuvre dessiné de François Boucher, Paris, 1966, I, no. 703. The penwork is comparable to that of a drawing of Rebecca receiving presents from Abraham from Bergeret's collection, Ananoff, op. cit., no. 687, illustrated.