The Holy Family at right, with the infant Saint John the Baptist, Elizabeth, Zacharias, and an angel at left
Original title: The Holy Family at right, with the infant Saint John the Baptist, Elizabeth, Zacharias, and an angel at left
kurzbeschreibung
An old man kneels with an open book, a boy looks up at him, and Mary holds the Christ Child: Pieter de Jode II gathers the Holy Family with John the Baptist, Elizabeth, Zacharias, and an angel in this engraving from 1631–37. The black-and-white print measures 39.3 × 50.8 cm.
Description
Mary sits in the foreground with the infant Jesus, while Joseph stands to the side with his staff. A bearded elder—Zacharias—kneels with a book in his hands, and John stands between the adults, gazing upward. On the left, an angel also holds a book. Trees and hills frame the group, and a temple-like building rises in the distance. The layout feels balanced, with light evenly distributed; fine lines and hatching define the classicizing style.
Context
Pieter de Jode II, a Flemish engraver, worked in Antwerp in the seventeenth century. Between 1631 and 1637, after his father's death, he took over the workshop and made this print. The theme of the Holy Family with John the Baptist was highly popular in Catholic art of the Counter-Reformation.
Impact
The calm, symmetrical arrangement of the figures radiates a solemn, devout mood. Clear lines and even lighting create a contemplative effect that invites the viewer to linger in silence.
Technique
For this engraving, lines were incised into a metal plate and then printed on paper. The process allows precise details and fine shading, which bring out the textures of the garments and the structures of the landscape. The sheet has been trimmed, reducing its original margins.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)