© Richard McBee
Joseph and Potiphar’s Wife” oil on canvas (16 x 20) by Richard McBee
Richard McBee’s Talmud-inspired painting:
Joseph was sold by his brothers and was bought by the Egyptian courtier, Potiphar, as chief servant of his master’s house. Potiphar’s wife was determined to sleep with the handsome young man. Joseph became known as “The Righteous” for resisting her temptations. (Genesis 39: 1-21)
Richard McBee was born in 1947 in New York City. He studied painting at the Art Students League of New York with Jean Liberte and Edward Melcarth. His early works were figurative narratives concentrating on the Bible. Since 1976 he has painted subject matter exclusively from the Torah and Jewish history. In addition to paintings he has also made many figurative relief sculptures, monotypes, unique ceramic menorahs and other Judaica.
From 1976 to 1987 he was active in the Alliance of Figurative Artists, a group of artists that met weekly at the Educational Alliance on the Lower East Side. He was their Program Director in 1983. In 1991 he helped create the American Guild of Judaic Art (an educational and trade association of artists engaged in Jewish Art; see jewishart.org). McBee developed the Jewish Art Forum in 1996 and 1997. This series of free slide lectures in the New York area was given by guest artists and experts in the field of Jewish Art.
Since May 2000 he has written a weekly critical review column in The Jewish Press. His artwork is in many private collections throughout the country. – Taken from McBee’s resume.
Women & Judaism:
University of California (Santa Cruz)
