1630
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
The Holy Family is a 1630 ink by Simone Cantarini, a Baroque work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This drawing shows a woman sitting on the ground, holding a small child. She’s wrapped in a loose cloak and looks down at the baby. Around them, trees and bushes fill the background, but they’re drawn in quick, sketchy lines. The whole scene feels busy but also quiet, like a moment frozen in time. The artist used a technique that leaves dark lines against a light background, making the figures stand out. Notice how the trees and rocks aren’t smooth—they’re made of tiny, repeated marks, almost like scratching into the surface. If you like this style, look up etching to see how artists create prints this way.
Simone Cantarini or Simone da Pesaro, called il Pesarese (Baptized on 21 August 1612 – 15 October 1648) was an Italian painter and etcher.
See the richer artist page
