Artwork

The Holy Family at the Bank of the River

The Holy Family at the Bank of the River, by Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo, ink, 1753
The Holy Family at the Bank of the River, by Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo, ink, 1753

The Holy Family at the Bank of the River 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

The Holy Family at the Bank of the River is a 1753 etching by Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo, representing a religious scene in the Italian Rococo style.

Subject & Meaning

The print depicts three key figures from a religious narrative by a river: a staff-bearing figure, a central haloed individual, and a cloaked figure with a bundle, set against turbulent natural elements, suggesting a dramatic religious episode.

Technique & Style

Tiepolo utilized etching to achieve fine lines, crafting a dramatic interplay of light and shadow. The composition's emphasis on expressive lines and contrasting tones is characteristic of Rococo printmaking.

History & Provenance

Created in 1753 by Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo, son of Giovanni Battista Tiepolo and brother of Lorenzo Baldissera Tiepolo, this etching reflects the family's artistic lineage within the Italian Rococo.

Context

As a religious etching, the work aligns with 18th-century Italian artistic tendencies, blending religious themes with the expressive qualities of Rococo aesthetics.

Legacy

While specific impact details are not provided, the etching contributes to the broader legacy of the Tiepolo family's contributions to Rococo art and the evolution of religious imagery in printmaking.

Artist & collection

Portrait of Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo

Artist

Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo

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.

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