Artwork
The Holy Family under a Tree
The Holy Family under a Tree is an ink drawing by the Baroque artist Simone Cantarini. It dates from 1630 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Simone Cantarini’s drawing *The Holy Family under a Tree* was executed in 1630 with pen and brown ink on laid paper. The composition shows a seated woman holding an infant, a standing man placing his hand on the child’s head, and a donkey positioned in the shade behind them, all gathered beneath a tree.
Subject & Meaning
The work presents a quiet, intimate moment of the Holy Family, emphasizing tenderness and protection. The inclusion of the donkey, a traditional symbol of humility, reinforces the religious narrative while the gentle interaction among the figures suggests a contemplative domestic scene.
Technique & Style
Cantarini employs fine, controlled lines to model form and suggest volume, allowing the ink to create subtle gradations of shadow. The drawing reflects his preference for soft illumination and a restrained naturalism that balances the Bolognese classicist tradition with a more immediate, observational approach.
History & Provenance
Born in 1612, Cantarini studied under Guido Reni in Bologna and worked as both painter and etcher until his death in 1648. This particular drawing is part of the National Gallery of Art’s collection in Washington, where it is catalogued among his ink works.
Context
Created during the early Baroque period, the piece aligns with contemporary interests in devotional imagery that combined classical compositional balance with a heightened sense of realism. Cantarini’s training in Reni’s studio informed his synthesis of idealized form and natural detail.
Artist & collection
Artist
Simone Cantarini or Simone da Pesaro, called il Pesarese (Baptized on 21 August 1612 – 15 October 1648) was an Italian painter and etcher.
The Madonna and Child with Saints
Two Seated Male Figures
Virgin and Child with Five Saints
The Resurrection
Studies of the Virgin and Child with Saints![The Ecstasy of Saint Francis [recto], by Sebastiano Ricci](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/sebastiano-ricci--the-ecstasy-of-saint-francis-recto--5f53f9b59775e5dd-w320.webp)
The Ecstasy of Saint Francis [recto]![Presentation of the Virgin in the Temple [verso], by Antonio Zanchi](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/antonio-zanchi--presentation-of-the-virgin-in-the-temple-verso--450080eaf8685583-w320.webp)
Presentation of the Virgin in the Temple [verso]
The Pietà (recto)
Holy Family with St. Elizabeth, St. John the Baptist, and Two Angels in a Landscape
Charity
Holy Family with Saint Anne and Female Head in Profile
The Holy Family