Artwork
The Holy Family
The Holy Family is an oil painting by the Orientalist artist Charles Verlat. It is held in the collection of the Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp.
About this work
Technique & Style
Mary and the Christ Child occupy the upper register, while Joseph appears seated below, grounding the scene in a quiet domestic setting.
Executed in oil paint in 1883, the work is mounted on a panel support and measures 98 cm in height by 72.5 cm in width.
The handling shows a smooth, blended application typical of academic practice, with careful modeling of forms through subtle tonal transitions rather than pronounced impasto. Figures are arranged in a stable, pyramidal composition that emphasizes the sacred subject’s solemnity. Mary and the Christ Child occupy the upper register, while Joseph appears seated below, grounding the scene in a quiet domestic setting. Subtle chiaroscuro defines the drapery and physiognomy, reinforcing the work’s religious gravitas.
History & Provenance
The Holy Family is an oil painting created by Charles Verlat in 1883. The work depicts the biblical figures of Mary, Joseph, and the Christ Child as the central subject. It was executed on a support combining panel and canvas, measuring 98 cm in height and 72.5 cm in width. The piece is currently held in the collection of the Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp.
The work is held in the collection of the Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp, with the inventory designation RMFA 1883-010. It was first exhibited at the museum in 1883. The painting has been part of the museum's permanent display since its acquisition, contributing to its religious art holdings.
Overview
The Holy Family is an 1892 oil painting by Charles Verlat, a Belgian artist and then-director of the Antwerp Academy, depicting a serene scene of Mary, Joseph, and the Christ Child.
Subject & Meaning
The painting portrays the Holy Family in a contemplative moment. Mary, draped in dark blue, cradles the Christ Child, who wears a serious expression. Joseph stands beside them, lost in thought, his gaze downward. The composition conveys a sense of quiet introspection.
Context
The painting was produced during a period when Orientalist themes were influential in European art. Verlat’s engagement with this movement is evident, though the work’s subject matter remains rooted in traditional religious themes.
Artist & collection
Artist
Charles Verlat or Karel Verlat (25 November 1824 – 23 October 1890) was a Belgian painter, watercolorist, engraver (printmaker), art educator and director of the Antwerp Academy.
