Artwork
Heilige Familie
Heilige Familie is an unspecified painting by the Early Baroque Italian artist Bartolomeo Schedoni. It dates from 1596 and is held in the collection of the Bavarian State Painting Collections.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1596, this oil on canvas by the Italian painter Bartolomeo Schedoni presents a quiet rendition of the Holy Family. The work is part of the collection of Munich’s Alte Pinakothek, where it is displayed among other late‑Renaissance religious pieces.
Subject & Meaning
The composition brings together the Virgin Mary, the infant Christ, and Saint Joseph. Mary cradles the newborn with a tender grip, emphasizing maternal protection, while Joseph stands slightly behind, his gaze directed toward the child, suggesting guardianship and contemplative reverence.
Technique & Style
Schedoni employs a pronounced chiaroscuro, casting the figures against a muted, shadowy backdrop. Soft illumination catches the faces of Mary and the infant, creating a luminous focal point, whereas Joseph remains more enveloped in darkness, heightening the emotional contrast and three‑dimensional presence of the scene.
History & Provenance
The painting entered the Alte Pinakothek’s holdings in the 19th century, following its acquisition from a private collection. Its attribution to Schedoni has been confirmed through stylistic analysis and archival records, situating the work within the artist’s mature period of religious commissions.
Artist & collection
