Artwork
Holy Family with an Angel
Holy Family with an Angel is an oil painting by the Northern Renaissance artist Albrecht Altdorfer. It dates from 1515 and is held in the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum.
About this work
Overview
Albrecht Altdorfer’s oil painting *Holy Family with an Angel*, executed in 1515, presents a compact group of four figures within a modest interior setting.
Albrecht Altdorfer’s oil painting *Holy Family with an Angel*, executed in 1515, presents a compact group of four figures within a modest interior setting. The central female figure, crowned with a halo of stars, cradles an infant while a bearded man in a red robe stands to her left and a youthful attendant with an angelic visage leans on the right. A dark‑green branch laden with fruit arches above the group, completing the composition.
Subject & Meaning
The work depicts the Virgin Mary, the infant Jesus, Saint Joseph, and a youthful angel, a conventional representation of the Holy Family. Mary’s red garment and star‑crowned halo emphasize her sanctity, while the infant’s calm demeanor and the angel’s gentle gaze convey a serene, divine intimacy. The fruit‑laden branch may allude to themes of fertility and the promise of spiritual nourishment.
Technique & Style
Altdorfer employs the Northern Renaissance’s meticulous oil technique, rendering textures—from the softness of the infant’s skin to the sheen of the fabrics—with fine detail. Subtle chiaroscuro models the figures, creating a sense of depth against the darkened background. The inclusion of a naturalistic branch reflects the Danube School’s characteristic integration of landscape elements within religious narratives.
History & Provenance
Created during Altdorfer’s mature period in Regensburg, the painting exemplifies his synthesis of devotional subject matter and landscape motifs. It entered the collection of Vienna’s Kunsthistorisches Museum, where it remains on display, providing insight into the artist’s role in advancing independent landscape painting within early 16th‑century German art.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Albrecht Altdorfer (c. 1480 – 12 February 1538) was a German painter, engraver and architect of the Renaissance working in Regensburg. Along with Lucas Cranach the Elder and Wolf Huber he is regarded to be the main…
