‘Joseph and the Five Shekels’
Mix Media on Paper – Mounted on Wood
24” x 18” – Framed
Private Collection
‘Joseph and the Five Shekels’ is the first of a number of paintings by Michael Helton that deal with the story of Joseph and the coat of many colors. Joseph was a favorite of his father, Jacob, who gave him the coat of many colors. This did not sit well with his brothers. Joseph also irritated his brothers by boasting tales of his prosperous dreams. This led to his brothers feeling jealous and angry at him. Joseph’s brothers then catch him alone, throw him in a pit, and then rather than kill him; decide to sell him to merchants for the equivalent of five shekels. They cover his ornate robe in animal blood and claim that he was mauled, seemingly never to be seen again.
From Genesis 37:1
The Three Francs’
Mix Media on Paper – Mounted on Wood
24” x 32” – Framed
$1897
Joseph’s three brothers, Simon, Levi, and Judah threw him in the pit and then sold him to merchants. I did not look favorably upon these three when painting their images and that is why they look so depraved and horrid.
The name ‘The Three Francs’ came from an event that happened on New Year’s Day at Hanover Park Vineyard, which I own with my wife, Amy. We closed the tasting room and opened the barrel room to offer samples. This usually illustrates that the same wine in different barrels will taste differently. On this day, we were tasting Cabernet Franc and working to find a balance between the nose, the middle, and the finish. Sometimes the middle will taste in only one or two parts of the mouth, but we were searching for a wine that hits all parts of the mouth with a nice finish. We finally had three barrels that worked well together, but I thought I could do better by adding a little Cabernet Sauvignon. There were three people who had stayed with me throughout the day, and they thought it was too much like my 1897, a Bordeaux blend. They wanted a single varietal Cabernet Franc because we already had several Bordeaux blends. I agreed that these three barrels did make a very nice Franc.
A little later, I was showing some of my artwork and these same three people saw the painting of Simon, Levi, and Judah and thought that it would make a great label for the Franc wine. I was quite surprised considering how frightful the images are. But the three of them insisted; consequently, I named the wine ‘The Three Francs’ and the painting after these three.
‘Reuben’s Bane’
Mix Media on Paper, Mounted on Wood
24” x 32” – Framed
$1897
As the firstborn of Jacob, it was Reuben’s responsibility to protect the family; however, it was God‘s plan for Joseph to be sold into Egypt as a slave no matter what Reuben did. Reuben was trying to protect Joseph and help rescue him from the pit. He was not present at Joseph’s sale; he did not participate. When he came back to the pit and saw that Joseph had disappeared, he was distraught saying in effect, the boy is missing and I, as the firstborn who will be held responsible for his safety, must flee because of the grief this will cause our father. But where can I go?
They were helpless pawns, he and his brothers, in executing God‘s plan to bring Joseph to Egypt. Reuben, more than anyone else, should have felt such guilt because he had been the most sensitive to Joseph’s and Jacob’s plight. And since he had tried to save Joseph, he blamed himself for not having pursued his plan aggressively enough.
‘Potiphar’s Wife
‘Joseph in Prison: Interpreting Two Dreams‘
Mix Media on Paper – Mounted on Wood
32” x 24” – Framed
Private Collection
Joseph accepted this misfortune which lasted for 12 years, calmly and with unwavering faith. He was admired by everyone, including the Warden, and was put in charge of the prison. The pharaoh’s Cupbearer and Baker were thrown in prison. They each had a dream which Joseph interpreted. The Cupbearer was to be restored to his position in three days. The Baker in three days was to be hung.
‘Zaphenath Peneah’
Mix Media on Paper – Mounted on Wood
24” x 18” – Framed
Private Collection
The time had come to free Joseph and begin the chain of events that would bring Jacob and his family to Egypt to fulfill the last part of the prophecy to Abraham that his offspring would be subjugated and persecuted. After interpreting the pharaoh’s dream, the pharaoh put Joseph in charge of preparing for the famine. The ring containing the royal seal was put on Joseph’s hand symbolizing that he would be the leader of the entire government and would have the authority to seal decrees as he desired. Appointees to a high positions were customarily assigned a new name commensurate with their new eminence. Joseph was given the name, Zaphenath-Peneah. He was given Asenath, Potiphar’s daughter, vindicating him from the charge that he had assaulted Potiphar’s wife. Also, his new name helped conceal Joseph’s identity from his family so the dreams could be fulfilled.
‘Gathering the Bountiful’
Mix Media on Paper – Mounted on Wood
28” x 20” – Framed
$1450
In order to prepare for the famine, Joseph instituted such strict controls that not even a handful of grain was overlooked. This policy was so successful that Joseph reached his pre-determined goal, meaning that once that happened it was no longer necessary to be as scrupulous in counting the future acquisition of food. As the new viceroy, he became acquainted with the populace and commissioned the construction of Royal Granaries in every city. Joseph’s granaries were sufficient not only to feed Egypt but to enrich the Pharaoh by selling food to the surrounding lands.
‘The Brothers Declared Spies’
Mix Media on Paper – Mounted on Wood
28” x 20” – Framed
$1450
The brothers knowing Joseph had been bound for Egypt, wanted to find him and ransom him. They entered through 10 different gates and spread out looking for him. Joseph expected his brothers and was looking for them. They did not recognize him because they did not expect Joseph to sit on a throne in royal raiments. They had sold him as a slave. Joseph accused them of being spies so they would not continue to look for him in the marketplaces and possibly hear of the Hebrew slave who had become viceroy.
Benjamin Before Joseph: All the Brothers Together
Mix Media on Paper – Mounted on Wood
18” x 26” – Framed
$1200
Joseph’s dream called for all eleven Brothers to bow to him. One was missing. He had to engineer Benjamin‘s appearance. He didn’t know how much he could trust his brothers. Had they killed Benjamin? Would they? It was a complex matter both on Joseph’s part, of sending some of the brothers back without Simon, and on the brother’s part to convince Jacob to allow Benjamin to return with them. But in the end, they returned with Benjamin to ask for provisions.
‘All The Earth Come To Egypt‘
*Info Coming Soon*
I am Joseph, Is my Father Still Alive?
Oil on Panel on Stretchers
20” x 16” – Framed
$950
‘The First Passover’
*Info Coming Soon*
The Passover Seder
Mixed Media on Paper
18″ x 24″
MICHAEL J. HELTON 