Artwork
Heilige Familie
Heilige Familie is an unspecified painting by the Early Baroque Italian artist Hans Rottenhammer. It dates from 1598 and is held in the collection of the Bavarian State Painting Collections.
About this work
Overview
Hans Rottenhammer’s 1598 oil painting, titled *Heilige Familie*, presents a small‑scale, intimate grouping of figures set against a misty landscape. The composition centers on a woman in a pale pink garment cradling a naked infant, flanked by a kneeling child in red, a shepherd‑like elder with a staff, and two cherubic figures above. Soft light suffuses the scene, lending a tranquil atmosphere.
Subject & Meaning
The work portrays the Holy Family, a common devotional theme in late‑Renaissance art, with the infant Jesus highlighted by his exposed skin. A lamb rests nearby, symbolising innocence, while the floating cherubs, bearing a wreath and a scroll, reinforce the sacred nature of the gathering. The gentle interaction among the figures conveys a sense of familial devotion and divine protection.
Technique & Style
Rottenhammer employs a delicate handling of light and shadow, creating a subtle chiaroscuro that models the forms without harsh contrast. The painter’s meticulous attention to detail is evident in the fine rendering of fabrics and the soft rendering of the surrounding foliage. The composition reflects early Baroque influences, merging German precision with Italianate elegance in a compact format.
History & Provenance
Created during Rottenhammer’s productive period in the transition between the late Renaissance and early Baroque, *Heilige Familie* entered the collection of the Alte Pinakothek in Munich. The museum’s acquisition reflects the work’s significance as an example of the artist’s small‑scale religious paintings, which were highly regarded by collectors of the era.
Artist & collection
Artist
Johann Rottenhammer, or Hans Rottenhammer (1564 – 14 August 1625), was a German painter. He specialized in highly finished paintings on a small scale.
