Artwork
Die Heilige Familie
Die Heilige Familie is an unspecified painting by the Mannerist artist Paolo Veronese. It dates from 1552 and is held in the collection of the Bavarian State Painting Collections.
About this work
Overview
Paolo Veronese’s *Die Heilige Familie*, executed in 1552, presents a domestic tableau of the Holy Family. The composition centers on the Virgin Mary cradling the infant Christ, while Joseph sits nearby. The figures are set against a stone wall with a muted green curtain, creating a modest interior that emphasizes the intimate interaction among the three characters.
Subject & Meaning
The work portrays the biblical scene of Mary, Joseph, and the newborn Jesus, emphasizing familial tenderness rather than overt theological drama. Mary’s gentle expression and the child’s inquisitive glance convey a sense of human affection, inviting contemplation of the divine within ordinary domestic bonds.
Technique & Style
Rendered in the Venetian Mannerist idiom, the painting showcases Veronese’s celebrated handling of colour. A refined palette of pink, green, orange and white creates a warm atmosphere, while delicate modelling of the figures suggests subtle chiaroscuro. The arrangement of forms and the graceful poses reflect the artist’s skill in balancing compositional harmony with expressive detail.
History & Provenance
Created during Veronese’s mature period, the piece belongs to the broader output of large‑scale religious commissions for which he, alongside Titian and Tintoretto, defined the 16th‑century Venetian school. *Die Heilige Familie* entered the collection of the Alte Pinakothek in Munich, where it remains part of the museum’s holdings of Renaissance art.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Paolo Caliari (1528 – 19 April 1588), known as Paolo Veronese ( VERR-ə-NAY-zay, -zee, US also -see; Italian: ), was an Italian Renaissance painter based in Venice, known for extremely large history paintings of…
