Who painted The Holy Family with the Does?

The Holy Family with the Does was painted by Rodolphe Bresdin in 1878.

Where can I see The Holy Family with the Does?

The Holy Family with the Does is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is The Holy Family with the Does?

The Holy Family with the Does is associated with Impressionism.

Artwork

The Holy Family with the Does

Rodolphe Bresdin , 1878

The Holy Family with the Does is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Rodolphe Bresdin. It dates from 1878 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Created in 1878, the work titled *The Holy Family with the Does* is a black transfer lithograph executed on chine collé. French draughtsman Rodolphe Bresnan produced the image, which combines a religious tableau with a richly detailed forest setting, featuring a seated woman, a nude child, and a nearby deer with its fawn.

Subject & Meaning

The composition presents a domestic scene set within a wooded landscape, echoing the traditional Holy Family motif while integrating elements of nature. The presence of the deer and its offspring introduces themes of innocence and pastoral harmony, aligning the sacred figures with the natural world.

Technique & Style

Bresnan employed transfer lithography, a process that allows fine line work and tonal variation, and mounted the print on a thin paper support (chine collé). The image is rendered in a realistic manner, emphasizing texture: rough bark and stone contrast with the smooth drapery of the woman's dress and the soft fur of the animals.

History & Provenance

Born in 1822, Bresnan moved from his Breton upbringing to Paris, where he associated with literary figures such as Charles Baudelaire and Victor Hugo. The 1878 print reflects his mature period, during which he frequently explored spiritual and allegorical subjects in his graphic oeuvre.

Context

Bresnan’s work belongs to a 19th‑century French tradition that merged detailed natural observation with symbolic content. His affiliation with the bohemian circles of Paris informed a sensibility that merged literary romanticism with meticulous draftsmanship, evident in the intricate forest backdrop of this piece.