Artwork
Holy Family with a lamb
Holy Family with a lamb is an oil painting by the Mannerist artist Gianfrancesco Penni. It dates from 1518 and is held in the collection of the National Museum in Warsaw.
About this work
Overview
The Holy Family with a Lamb is a painting created around 1518 by Gianfrancesco Penni, an Italian artist known as il Fattore. Executed in oil paint, it is a representative work of the Mannerist style.
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts a serene scene of the Holy Family in a landscape. The Virgin, holding the Christ child, sits beside Saint Joseph, who stands behind her with a staff. The Christ child reaches out to a lamb, symbolizing his future sacrifice.
Technique & Style
The artist employs chiaroscuro, using strong contrasts between light and dark to create a sense of depth and volume in the figures. The Mannerist style is evident in the elongated forms and the use of vivid colors, such as the red and blue of the Virgin's robe.
History & Provenance
The painting is now held in the National Museum in Warsaw. Penni came from a family of artists; his brothers Bartolommeo and Luca were associated with the Tudor court and the School of Fontainebleau, respectively.
Artist & collection
Artist
Gianfrancesco Penni (1488/1496–1528), called il Fattore, was an Italian painter. His brother Bartolommeo was an artist of the Tudor court of Henry VIII, and another brother, Luca, ended up as one of the Italian artists…
The Nativity
Holy Family with St. John and Mary Magdalene
The Holy Family
Holy Family with a Shepherd
The Adoration of the Shepherds
Holy Family in a Landscape
The Rest on The Flight into Egypt
Rest on the Flight into Egypt with St Justine
The Mystic Marriage of Saint Catherine
The Adoration of the Shepherds
The Virgin and Child with St John the Baptist and an Unidentified Saint
Johannes Kastaja kerää kukkia vanhemmilleen