Artwork
The Holy Family
The Holy Family is an oil painting by the Northern Renaissance artist Martin Schongauer. It dates from 1489 and is held in the collection of the Bavarian State Painting Collections.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1489, this oil painting by Martin Schongauer portrays the Holy Family—Mary, the infant Christ, and Joseph—set within a tranquil landscape. The work is part of the collection of the Alte Pinakothek in Munich and exemplifies late‑15th‑century devotional art.
Subject & Meaning
At the centre, Mary is seated in a flowing red garment, cradling the Christ Child on her lap, while Joseph stands to her right in a blue robe topped with a red head covering. The intimate grouping conveys familial affection and the theological significance of the Incarnation within a peaceful domestic scene.
Technique & Style
Schongauer employs oil paint to achieve subtle modelling and a sense of three‑dimensional space. Layers of translucent glaze build depth, especially in the figures’ drapery and the surrounding landscape, while the soft transitions of colour render the sky, hills, and distant structures with atmospheric clarity.
History & Provenance
Since its creation, the painting has remained in the European art market and was eventually acquired by the Alte Pinakothek, where it has been displayed as part of the museum’s German Renaissance holdings, offering insight into Schongauer’s religious output.
Artist & collection
Artist
Martin Schongauer, also known as Martin Schön or Hübsch Martin by his contemporaries, was an Alsatian engraver and painter.
