Artwork
Holy Family
Holy Family is an oil painting by the Early Baroque Italian artist Angelo Solimena. It dates from 1700 and is held in the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
Its placement within the Neapolitan school of painting situates it in a regional context known for emotionally expressive treatments of sacred subjects.
The painting's main subject is the Holy Family, a devotional theme rooted in Christian tradition. According to the Wikidata record, the work depicts Mary, the Christ Child, and Joseph, the three figures who together form the core of this iconographic grouping.
In Christian art, the Holy Family represents the earthly household of Jesus and serves as a model of piety, parental devotion, and sacred intimacy. Such compositions typically emphasize the tender bond between mother and child while presenting Joseph as a protective presence, reinforcing themes of divine incarnation within a human family setting.
The work is classified as a religious painting, aligning it with a long tradition of devotional imagery produced for both private contemplation and public veneration. Its placement within the Neapolitan school of painting situates it in a regional context known for emotionally expressive treatments of sacred subjects.
Technique & Style
Created in 1700, this religious work by Angelo Solimena is executed in oil paint on a canvas support. As a product of the Neapolitan school of painting, the piece depicts the Holy Family, specifically Mary, the Christ Child, and Joseph. The medium and material combination is consistent with the artist's practice during this period, utilizing oil on canvas to render the sacred figures.
History & Provenance
The painting Holy Family by Angelo Solimena was created in 1700 as an oil on canvas work, reflecting the religious genre within the Neapolitan school of painting. It depicts Mary, the Christ Child, and Joseph, forming a devotional composition typical of Solimena's output. The work entered the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum, where it remains held today.
Its provenance traces directly to the museum's cataloging, with no documented prior private ownership or sale recorded. The creation history is anchored to its 1700 inception date and documented as part of Solimena's religious series.
Overview
Angelo Solimena’s Holy Family (1700) is an oil painting that presents the Virgin Mary, the infant Christ, and Saint Joseph in a modest domestic setting. The figures are arranged on a straw‑covered surface, accompanied by a donkey and a sheep, creating a quiet, intimate atmosphere characteristic of early Baroque devotional works.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Angelo Solimena (Serino, 17 November 1629 – Nocera Inferiore, February 1716) was an Italian painter, father of the better known Francesco Solimena.
