The Holy Family with Saint John the Baptist (ca. 1617–20)
Original title: The Holy Family with Saint John the Baptist
kurzbeschreibung
Around 1617–20, Michel Lasne produced this engraving of the Holy Family with the infant John the Baptist in a peaceful landscape. Mary, the Christ Child, Joseph, and the young John the Baptist are brought together in a balanced, calm arrangement.
Description
A seated woman holds a child on her lap; beside her stands a man carrying another child. In the distance, a house roof and a column suggest a rural setting. Plants and a sheep animate the foreground, while clouds and a bird furnish the sky. Latin verses engraved along the bottom explain the subject. The figures' clothing points to the 17th century.
Context
Lasne, a French engraver, was valued for his reproductive prints after well-known painters. This print was made around 1617–20, when he was working in Paris for various publishers. The Holy Family with the infant John the Baptist was a popular subject in Catholic art after the Counter-Reformation, emphasizing the Incarnation of Christ and the role of John the Baptist.
Impact
The sheet conveys a quiet, contemplative mood, supported by the symmetrical arrangement and even distribution of light. The idyllic landscape and the delicate features of the figures create an idealized yet approachable atmosphere that invites devotion.
Technique
For this engraving, the image was incised into a copper plate and then printed on paper. Fine lines and precise hatching yield a detailed rendering with soft tonal gradations. The trimmed sheet measures 26.6 × 18 cm, suggesting a compact, intimate format.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)