The Dream of Saint Joseph (Champaigne)

The Dream of Saint Joseph is an oil painting on canvas by Philippe de Champaigne, now in the National Gallery, London, which bought it in 1958. It measures 209.5 × 155.8 cm, and probably dates to 1642–1643.

It depicts Saint Joseph's dream as set out in the first chapter of the Gospel of Matthew verses 20–21; this is the first of Joseph's four dreams, as recorded in Matthew, a subject also known as the Annunciation to Joseph. An angel appears to him and reassures him that, even though she is pregnant, he should marry the Virgin Mary, who appears on the right:

"Joseph, son of David, don't be afraid to take Mary home as your wife. The baby inside her is from the Holy Spirit. She is going to have a son. You must give him the name Jesus. That's because he will save his people from their sins."

The subject was unusual before the 17th century, when the cult of Saint Joseph became widely promoted within the Catholic Church, by figures including Pope Gregory XV, who in 1621 made Joseph's feast day of 19 March a holy day of obligation, when Catholics were required to attend Mass. Philippe de Champaigne painted the subject three times, for churches and convents.

In late 2025 the painting was on display in Room 29 ("Making Paris a New Rome: French Painting 1600–1700") at the National Gallery.