The Scribe Shaphan Reading The Book Of Law To King Josiah

Leonaert Bramer, also Leendert or Leonard (24 December 1596 – before 10 February 1674 (date of burial)), was a Dutch painter known primarily for genre, religious, and history paintings. Very prolific as a painter and draftsman, he is noted especially for nocturnal scenes which show a penchant for exotic details of costume and setting.  He also painted frescos which have not survived, as well as murals on canvas, few of which are extant.

This painting measures 7 ½ x 11 5⁄8 in. (19 x 29.5 cm.).  It is housed in a private collection after an Anonymous sale; Couturier & de Nicolay, Paris, and a second Anonymous sale; [Property of a Private Collection], at Sotheby's, New York, 22 January 2004, lot 28, where acquired by the present owner.

Shaphan, son of Azaliah, is the name of a scribe or court secretary mentioned several times in the Hebrew Bible (2 Kings 22:3–14 and 25:22; and parallels in 2 Chronicles 34:8–20.  Shaphan is one of three leaders sent by King Josiah of Judah to repair the temple in Jerusalem,using the temple funds to commission the necessary work. When the chief Temple priest Hilkiah discovers an ancient Torah scroll, he gives it to Shaphan, who in turn brings it to King Josiah. Josiah reads it aloud to a crowd in Jerusalem, resulting in a great religious revival. Many scholars believe this was either a copy of the Book of Deuteronomy or a text that became a part of Deuteronomy as we have it; as a result the event is known as the Deuteronomic reform.