Artwork
Joseph Kneels with the Child before Mary on the Donkey
Joseph Kneels with the Child before Mary on the Donkey is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo. It dates from 1753 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo’s 1753 etching titled *Joseph Kneels with the Child before Mary on the Donkey* presents a quiet biblical tableau. Rendered in monochrome, the print shows a kneeling Joseph, a seated Virgin Mary holding the infant Christ, and a donkey, all placed within a densely wooded setting.
Subject & Meaning
The composition captures a moment of devotion: Joseph bows before Mary, acknowledging her role as mother of the Savior. The presence of the donkey, a traditional symbol of humility and service, reinforces the theme of reverence and the modest circumstances surrounding the holy family.
Technique & Style
Created by incising lines into a metal plate, the etching allows Tiepolo to achieve crisp, precise contours and delicate shading. The artist’s handling of line conveys the texture of foliage and the softness of the figures, while the stark contrast of black ink on paper emphasizes the intimate atmosphere.
History & Provenance
Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo, the son of celebrated painter Giovanni Battista Tiepolo, was active as both a painter and a printmaker in mid‑18th‑century Venice. This work belongs to a series of religious prints he produced, reflecting his engagement with devotional subjects popular among patrons of the period.
Context
The print aligns with the broader Rococo interest in narrative clarity and graceful composition, yet its restrained palette and focus on a sacred episode set it apart from the more ornamental works of his father. It illustrates the younger Tiepolo’s ability to translate painterly concerns into the medium of print.
Artist & collection
Artist
Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo (August 30, 1727 – March 3, 1804) was an Italian painter and printmaker in etching. He was the son of artist Giovanni Battista Tiepolo and elder brother of Lorenzo Baldissera Tiepolo.
The Rest on the Flight, with Adoring Angels
The Rest on the Flight with Joseph in Adoration
The Rest on the Flight, with Adoring Angels
The Flight, Joseph at Right and Mary and Angel at Left
The Flight into Egypt
The Holy Family Disembarking
The Flight with the Holy Family at the Right
The Flight, with Madonna at Right Supported by Angels
The Rest on the Flight, with Holy Family under a Tree
The Supper at Emmaus
Joseph Kneels with the Child before Mary on the Donkey
Allegory of Painting