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The Holy Family with Tobias and the Angel

Cherubino Alberti

1574

ink

paper

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Renaissance Renaissance Religious

Dominant colour

The Holy Family with Tobias and the Angel is a 1574 ink by Cherubino Alberti, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: Cherubino Alberti
When & what style?: 1574 · Renaissance
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This black-and-white print shows a crowded scene with four figures. One woman sits holding a child, while another woman leans in close to her. A man stands behind them, pointing upward. A young boy kneels near a large fish on the ground, looking up at a winged figure who seems to be guiding him. Notice how the artist uses fine lines to create shadows and texture—this is called cross-hatching. The figures are packed together, but each one has clear details in their clothing and expressions. Look up cross-hatching to see how artists build depth with just lines.