Artwork
The Holy Family with Tobias and the Angel
The Holy Family with Tobias and the Angel is an ink print by the Renaissance artist Cherubino Alberti. It dates from 1574 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
The Holy Family with Tobias and the Angel is an engraving on laid paper created by Cherubino Alberti around 1574. It is a print held at the National Gallery of Art, Washington.
Subject & Meaning
The engraving depicts a crowded scene featuring four figures: a seated woman holding a child, another woman leaning in, a standing man pointing upwards, and a young boy with a winged figure near a large fish. The figures are likely biblical characters, including the Holy Family and Tobias with the angel.
Technique & Style
The print showcases Alberti's use of fine lines to create shadows and texture through cross-hatching, a technique that builds depth using layered lines. This method allows for detailed rendering of the figures' clothing and expressions despite their close proximity.
Artist & collection
![Prudence [recto], by Cherubino Alberti](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/cherubino-alberti--prudence-recto--3f44e6d72db5eb8c-w320.webp)
![The Death of Tancred [left], by Gabriel de Saint-Aubin](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/gabriel-de-saint-aubin--the-death-of-tancred-left--c0a4b5e0d77d5ed0-w320.webp)
