Artwork
Holy Family with a Shepherd
Holy Family with a Shepherd is an oil painting by the Mannerist artist Battista Dossi. It dates from 1522 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Technique & Style
The artist's handling of the oil medium would have enabled subtle tonal transitions and atmospheric effects characteristic of the Ferrarese school.
The Holy Family with a Shepherd is executed in oil paint on canvas, measuring 38.7 by 32.0 cm. The medium of oil paint on a canvas support was a significant combination in early sixteenth-century Italian painting, allowing for layered glazes and detailed rendering. The small scale of the work suggests an intimate devotional function, typical of Battista Dossi's religious paintings. The artist's handling of the oil medium would have enabled subtle tonal transitions and atmospheric effects characteristic of the Ferrarese school.
History & Provenance
The painting Holy Family with a Shepherd was created by the Italian artist Battista Dossi in 1522. Executed in oil paint on canvas, the work originates from Italy and measures 38.7 cm in height by 32.0 cm in width. It is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it is catalogued under accession number 1949.185, and is classified within the religious art genre. No exhibition history beyond its presence in the museum's collection is documented in the available sources.
Overview
Battista Dossi's Holy Family with a Shepherd, an oil painting from 1522, presents a religious narrative within a distinctive Mannerist style. The work reflects Dossi's training and his association with the Ferrara School, a prominent artistic center of the Italian Renaissance. This painting is part of the collection at The Cleveland Museum of Art.
Subject & Meaning
The composition depicts the Virgin Mary, identifiable by her blue-green cloak, holding the Christ Child. Joseph, a bearded older man, kneels beside them, his hand gently touching the infant. A young shepherd, staff in hand, observes the scene from outside a window, while a shadowy figure leans against a wall in the background. The arrangement conveys a moment of intimate devotion and quiet contemplation.
Context
Battista Dossi was an Italian painter active in the early 16th century, closely linked to the Ferrara School. His artistic formation included a period of study in Raphael's Roman studio, which informed his approach to composition and figuration. Dossi later served the Court of Ferrara, often collaborating with his brother, Dosso Dossi, contributing to the region's unique artistic environment.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Battista Dossi (ca. 1490–1548), also known as Battista de Luteri, was an Italian painter who belonged to the Ferrara School of Painting. He spent nearly his entire career in service of the Court of Ferrara, where he…
