Artwork
Holy Family
Holy Family is an oil painting. It dates from 1525 and is held in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago.
About this work
Overview
The composition includes a broken loaf of bread and a vase of flowers on the floor, lending a quiet, everyday atmosphere.
Holy Family is an oil painting that presents a domestic scene centered on a mother and child. The woman, dressed in a blue gown with a red mantle, cradles a plump infant who reaches toward a small round object. Behind them stands an older man wearing a wide‑brimmed hat, absorbed in a book that appears to be a biblical text. The composition includes a broken loaf of bread and a vase of flowers on the floor, lending a quiet, everyday atmosphere.
Subject & Meaning
The work depicts a tender moment within the traditional Holy Family narrative, emphasizing intimacy over grandeur. The mother’s serene expression and the child’s inquisitive gesture suggest themes of nurturing and the anticipation of nourishment, while the elder figure’s reading posture hints at spiritual guidance and contemplation.
Technique & Style
Executed in oil, the painting employs chiaroscuro to model forms through contrasts of light and shadow, creating depth and a sense of three‑dimensionality. The muted palette, combined with the subtle illumination on the figures, underscores the modest, contemplative mood of the scene.
History & Provenance
The piece is catalogued simply as a painting titled Holy Family, with no further documented ownership or exhibition history provided. Its attribution, date, and original location remain unspecified in the available records.
Artist & collection
