Artwork
The Holy Family with the Infant Saint John the Baptist
The Holy Family with the Infant Saint John the Baptist is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Michel Ange Houasse. It dates from 1723 and is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado.
About this work
Overview
The Holy Family with the Infant Saint John the Baptist is a 1723 oil painting by Michel Ange Houasse, a French artist active at the Spanish court.
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts a serene scene of the Holy Family, with a woman in red holding a baby, an older man in a brown robe observing, and a young child standing nearby with a cross-shaped stick, suggesting an early representation of Saint John the Baptist.
Technique & Style
Houasse employed chiaroscuro, using strong contrasts of light and shadow to create a sense of depth, and worked in the Rococo style, incorporating Flemish-influenced elements characteristic of his broader contribution to Spanish art.
History & Provenance
Created during Houasse's tenure at the court of Philip V of Spain, where he was summoned in 1715, the painting is now part of the Museo del Prado's collection.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Michel Ange Houasse (1680–1730) was a French painter, most of whose career was spent at the court of Philip V of Spain, who summoned him to the court in Madrid in 1715 whilst he was still Philip of Anjou.
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