Joseph Was a Hearty Young Carpenter

huerfano: Why is Joseph so often portrayed as an old man in so many Renaissance paintings?

Actually, Joseph was a hearty young carpenter who was working on an addition to a house, when the householder's daughter brought the hunky carpenter a glass of water. Mutual affection ensued.

Tragic thing, that crane falling on Joseph while working on Herod's palace. Not only left Mary and the eldest boy to raise all those younger kids, but also, Herod refused to pay damages or even Joe's back pay. Government, as always.

Mary and the ben Josephs muddled through, with Jesus assuming the father role. It was good, though, that Jesus thereby got mortal parenting experience, since he never got to have kids of his own. He was in all ways tested as a mortal, including dealing with the rebellious middle child.