Artwork
The Holy Family with Two Saints
The Holy Family with Two Saints is an ink print by the Renaissance artist Antonio da Trento. It dates from 1529 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:All inscriptions by later hand in graphite, upper left verso: 12; lower right verso: Anonymous / B XII 64.24 I / W.14
About this work
Overview
Antonio da Trento’s 1529 print, The Holy Family with Two Saints, is a chiaroscuro woodcut executed solely with black lines from a single line block. The composition presents a modest landscape populated by four figures: a woman with an infant, a child reaching toward her, a kneeling robed man, and a winged, haloed figure.
Subject & Meaning
The central grouping suggests a devotional scene, likely the Virgin and Child accompanied by a saintly child, while the kneeling figure appears to be in prayer toward an angelic presence. The inclusion of two saints alongside the Holy Family reflects common Counter‑Reformation iconography that emphasizes intercession.
Technique & Style
Da Trento employed the chiaroscuro woodcut method, layering multiple blocks to achieve tonal variation, though this proof uses only the line block, rendering the image in stark black outlines. The technique creates a sense of volume and atmospheric depth without any color, echoing the painterly effects of contemporary Italian art.
History & Provenance
Born in Trento in 1508, Antonio trained with Ugo da Carpi before aligning himself with Parmigianino’s Mannerist style and later the French School of Fontainebleau. The print survives as a proof, indicating it may have been a trial before a fully colored edition was produced.
Context
Chiaroscuro woodcuts were popular in early sixteenth‑century Italy as a means of reproducing the tonal richness of paintings for a broader audience. Da Trento’s work reflects this trend, combining the technical precision of woodcutting with the compositional elegance of Mannerist painting.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Antonio da Trento (1508–1550) was an Italian printmaker, born in Trento. He specialized in chiaroscuro woodcuts, especially of religious subjects. Da Trento probably first learned wood engraving from Ugo da Carpi. He…
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