Artwork
The Holy Family with Saint John the Baptist
The Holy Family with Saint John the Baptist is an ink print by the Renaissance artist Annibale Carracci. It dates from 1590 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1590, this print by Annibale Carracci depicts the Holy Family accompanied by the infant Saint John the Baptist. Executed with both etching and engraving on laid paper, the image presents a domestic tableau in which Mary holds the Christ child, Joseph reads nearby, and the young John stands within the group.
Subject & Meaning
The composition emphasizes the intimate bond among the figures, highlighting the tender interaction between mother and child and the contemplative presence of Joseph. The inclusion of the infant John the Baptist foreshadows his future role, while the overall mood conveys a quiet, devotional atmosphere.
Technique & Style
Carracci combines the line work of engraving with the softer tonal qualities of etching, allowing for delicate shading and a sense of spatial depth. The figures are rendered with gentle contours, and the background landscape—rolling hills and scattered trees—adds a modest atmospheric perspective typical of early Baroque sensibilities.
History & Provenance
Annibale Carracci, a pivotal Bolognese artist who later worked in Rome, produced this print during a period when he was actively exploring printmaking. The work reflects his collaboration with his brother Agostino and cousin Ludovico, who together helped shape the emerging Baroque style.
Context
The image belongs to the religious genre prevalent in late 16th‑century Italy, a time when artists sought to merge classical compositional balance with increased emotional dynamism. Carracci’s print exemplifies this synthesis, offering a devotional scene rendered with a new vigor that anticipates Baroque developments.
Artist & collection
Artist
Annibale Carracci ( kə-RAH-chee, UK also kə-RATCH-ee, Italian: ; November 3, 1560 – July 15, 1609) was an Italian painter and instructor, active in Bologna and later in Rome.
