The Holy Family with saints Elizabeth and John
Original title: The Holy Family with saints Elizabeth and John
kurzbeschreibung
Mary sits at the center with the Christ Child on her lap, anchoring this woodcut by Nicolò Boldrini from around 1550. To either side come Joseph with a book and Elizabeth with a child, while John the Baptist sits on the ground. The Holy Family and the two saints are united in a calm, symmetrical arrangement before a landscape backdrop.
Description
On the left Joseph kneels with an open book, facing him on the right is Elizabeth with a child. Along the bottom edge John the Baptist also holds a book in his hands. The figures appear in half profile; behind them lie trees, rocks, and a village. Fine lines and the monochrome palette define the sheet.
Context
Made around 1550, this woodcut falls in a period when religious prints circulated widely in Italy. Boldrini, a Venetian artist, often worked from designs by Titian, though that is not documented for this piece. Pairing the Holy Family with additional saints was a common motif of the Counter-Reformation and underscored the importance of venerating saints.
Impact
Even lighting and a symmetrical layout convey a quiet, devotional mood. The detailed execution and delicate lines give the sheet a noble, almost drawing-like quality that invites contemplative looking.
Technique
For this woodcut the design is cut into a woodblock and then printed on paper. The grain of the wood and the fine lines are characteristic of the technique, which allows a monochrome reproduction without halftones. Measuring roughly 21.3 x 30.5 cm, it is a handy devotional image.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)