Artwork
Mary and Joseph Find the Boy Jesus in the Temple with the Doctors
Mary and Joseph Find the Boy Jesus in the Temple with the Doctors is an ink print by the Renaissance artist Léonard Gaultier. It dates from 1578 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Leonard Gaultier’s engraving, dated around 1578, portrays the biblical episode in which Mary and Joseph discover the twelve‑year‑old Jesus engaged in theological discussion with scholars inside the temple. Executed entirely with the graver, the print presents a crowded interior space framed by columns and arches, centering on a seated child surrounded by adult figures.
Subject & Meaning
The scene illustrates the Gospel narrative of the young Jesus being found among the doctors, emphasizing his early wisdom and authority. The composition places the child at the focal point, his gestures suggesting instruction, while his parents stand nearby, underscoring the tension between familial concern and divine insight.
Technique & Style
Gaultier’s work is marked by meticulous line engraving, producing fine, controlled contours and a formal, somewhat rigid arrangement of figures. The precision of his incisions aligns him with contemporaries such as the Wierix brothers and Crispyn van de Passe, reflecting the Northern European tradition of detailed, graver‑cut prints.
History & Provenance
Born in Mainz circa 1561, Gaultier established his career in Paris, where he remained active until his death in 1641. The engraving was likely designed by Gaultier himself, as he frequently created original compositions rather than merely reproducing others’ drawings. Surviving copies are found in several European print collections.
Context
The print belongs to a broader 16th‑century interest in visualizing New Testament episodes for devotional purposes. Its architectural setting, with classical columns and a circular device resembling a sundial, reflects contemporary Renaissance fascination with antiquity and the integration of scholarly motifs into religious storytelling.
Artist & collection
Artist
Léonard Gaultier, or, as he sometimes signed himself, Galter, a French engraver, was born at Mainz about 1561, and died in Paris in 1641.
