Artwork
Holy Family with Saint Elizabeth and the Young John the Baptist
Holy Family with Saint Elizabeth and the Young John the Baptist is an ink print by the Renaissance artist Orazio de Santis. It dates from 1568 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Orazio de Santis produced an engraving titled Holy Family with Saint Elizabeth and the Young John the Baptist in 1568. Executed on laid paper, the print presents a compact group of five figures arranged within a dimly lit, rocky interior, emphasizing a quiet, intimate scene.
Subject & Meaning
At the centre, a seated woman cradles an infant, identified as the Virgin Mary with the Christ Child. To her right, a young boy—John the Baptist—reaches outward, while an older man, likely Saint Joseph, leans forward in contemplation. A smaller figure in the background, holding a staff, represents Saint Elizabeth, linking the two families through kinship.
Technique & Style
De Santis employed fine line work and dense cross‑hatching to model the forms, creating pronounced shadows that suggest the texture of the woman's drapery and the rugged cave walls. The engraving’s tonal modulation relies on layered hatching, a standard method for rendering depth in 16th‑century prints.
History & Provenance
The print dates to 1568, situating it within the late Renaissance period of Italian engraving. While specific ownership records are scarce, the work is catalogued among de Santis’s religious series, reflecting the era’s demand for devotional images suitable for private contemplation.
Artist & collection
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