Artwork
The Holy Family
The Holy Family is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Giovanni Battista Tagliasacchi. It dates from 1724 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.
About this work
Overview
Giovanni Battista Tagliasacchi’s 1724 oil painting titled *The Holy Family* presents a serene domestic scene of the Virgin Mary, the infant Jesus, and Saint Joseph. Executed in the Rococo idiom, the composition places the three figures against a muted backdrop, allowing the viewer to focus on their intimate interaction.
Subject & Meaning
The work portrays Mary in a blue garment cradling the newborn Christ, while Joseph, dressed in a red robe, observes from behind. The infant’s reaching gesture toward his mother conveys a tender exchange, emphasizing the humanity and affection within the biblical family.
Technique & Style
Tagliasacchi employs a soft chiaroscuro, using gentle contrasts of light and shadow to model the figures and separate them from the darkened background. The delicate coloration and fluid brushwork reflect Rococo sensibilities, while the overall composition retains the balanced structure typical of late‑Baroque religious paintings.
History & Provenance
Born in 1697, Tagliasacchi was active mainly in Piacenza, producing both historical narratives and portraiture. *The Holy Family* entered the collection of Denmark’s Statens Museum for Kunst, where it remains part of the institution’s holdings of 18th‑century European art.
Artist & collection
Artist
Giovanni Battista Tagliasacchi
Giovanni Battista Tagliasacchi (26 August 1697 – 3 December 1737) was an Italian painter of the late-Baroque period.
