Artwork
The Holy Family with Angels
The Holy Family with Angels is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Rembrandt. It dates from 1645 and is held in the collection of the Hermitage Museum.
About this work
This is an oil painting on canvas by Rembrandt from the Dutch Golden Age. It shows a holy scene with Mary, Joseph, and the Christ Child surrounded by angels. The work lives at the State Hermitage Museum today.
Rembrandt painted it around 1645. It’s a small piece but full of quiet feeling. The angels add a soft, glowing touch.
Look up Rembrandt next.
Overview
Rembrandt's "The Holy Family with Angels," created around 1645, is an oil painting on canvas from the Dutch Golden Age. This intimate work depicts the Virgin Mary, Saint Joseph, and the infant Christ, enveloped by a group of angels. The painting is recognized for its tender portrayal of the sacred family and is currently housed in the collection of the State Hermitage Museum.
Subject & Meaning
This portrayal emphasizes the human tenderness within the divine narrative, a common theme in Rembrandt's religious works.
The composition centers on the Holy Family, rendered with a profound sense of quietude and domesticity. Mary cradles the sleeping Christ Child, while Joseph observes nearby. Surrounding them, angels introduce a celestial presence, their forms contributing a gentle radiance to the scene. This portrayal emphasizes the human tenderness within the divine narrative, a common theme in Rembrandt's religious works.
Technique & Style
Executed in oil on canvas, this painting exemplifies Rembrandt's mastery in conveying emotion through light and shadow. Despite its modest dimensions, the artist imbues the scene with a deep emotional resonance. The subtle illumination highlights the figures, particularly the infant and Mary, while the ethereal glow emanating from the angels adds a delicate, almost dreamlike quality, enhancing the spiritual atmosphere.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn (15 July 1606 – 4 October 1669), known mononymously as Rembrandt, was a Dutch Golden Age painter, printmaker, and draughtsman.
