Artwork

Liber Veritatis: No. 38, The Repose of the Holy Family along a River

Liber Veritatis:  No. 38, The Repose of the Holy Family along a River, by Richard Earlom, 1774
Liber Veritatis:  No. 38, The Repose of the Holy Family along a River, by Richard Earlom, 1774

Liber Veritatis: No. 38, The Repose of the Holy Family along a River is a print by the Romanticist artist Richard Earlom. It dates from 1774 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. Liber Veritatis: No.

About this work

Overview

Liber Veritatis: No. 38, The Repose of the Holy Family along a River is a 1774 print by Richard Earlom, currently in the collection of The Cleveland Museum of Art.

Subject & Meaning

The print depicts a serene scene of the Holy Family in a riverside setting. Key figures include a woman (likely the Virgin Mary) sitting under a large tree with an infant (Jesus), a man (Joseph) leaning on a rock in contemplation, and another figure kneeling with a small animal, possibly an angel or attendant.

Technique & Style

Earlom employed strong chiaroscuro techniques, leveraging contrasting light and dark to delineate the figures against the dense, looming foliage. The trees are rendered with thick, heavy brushstrokes, creating a sense of enclosure around the group.

History & Provenance

Created in 1774, the work is part of Earlom's Liber Veritatis series. Its current location is The Cleveland Museum of Art, though the full provenance history is not detailed here.

Context

While specific contextual influences are not highlighted in the provided details, the use of chiaroscuro suggests alignment with broader 18th-century artistic trends emphasizing dramatic lighting.

Legacy

The legacy of this specific work is not outlined in the provided information, focusing instead on its basic attributes and technique.

Artist & collection

Portrait of Richard Earlom

Artist

Richard Earlom

Richard Earlom (1743–1822) was a British artist, born in London.

This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: Cleveland Museum of Art open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.