Artwork
The Holy Family with the Infant John the Baptist
The Holy Family with the Infant John the Baptist is an oil painting by the High Renaissance artist Fra Bartolomeo. It dates from 1510 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts the Holy Family, Mary, the Christ Child, Joseph, and the infant John the Baptist, arranged in a quiet domestic scene.
The painting depicts the Holy Family, Mary, the Christ Child, Joseph, and the infant John the Baptist, arranged in a quiet domestic scene. Mary cradles the Christ Child while Joseph leans protectively beside her, and the young John the Baptist approaches with a reed cross, a traditional symbol of his future role as the forerunner to Christ. The reed cross, though small, carries strong iconographic weight, signaling John’s future ministry and Christ’s Passion.
The composition emphasizes maternal care and divine lineage, with Mary’s contemplative gaze and Joseph’s supporting presence reinforcing the sacred bond of the Holy Family. The inclusion of John the Baptist as an infant introduces a narrative bridge between the Old and New Testaments, underscoring themes of prophecy and fulfillment central to Christian iconography.
History & Provenance
Created by Fra Bartolomeo in 1510, the oil painting on panel depicts the Holy Family alongside the Infant John the Baptist. The work's creation history is anchored to this specific year, establishing its place within the artist's early 16th-century religious output. Regarding ownership, the piece was previously held by Julius Wilhelm Edwin vom Rath before entering the collection of Thomas Baring, 1st Earl of Northbrook. It is currently part of the holdings at the Rijksmuseum.
The Holy Family with the Infant John the Baptist is currently held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. The painting, executed on panel in 1510, was previously owned by Thomas Baring, 1st Earl of Northbrook, and Julius Wilhelm Edwin vom Rath before entering the museum's holdings. Specific inventory or accession numbers for the work are not provided in the available documentation. The sources do not contain information regarding a history of exhibitions for this piece.
Overview
Fra Bartolomeo, a prominent Italian Renaissance painter, completed The Holy Family with the Infant John the Baptist in 1510. This oil painting exemplifies the High Renaissance style, depicting the traditional figures of Mary, Joseph, and the Christ Child, alongside the young John the Baptist. The work is currently housed in the Rijksmuseum collection. Bartolomeo, a Dominican friar, was renowned for his devotional compositions.
Technique & Style
Executed in oil paint, this work reflects the refined aesthetic of the High Renaissance. Fra Bartolomeo’s training under Cosimo Rosselli and his later life as a Dominican friar influenced his focus on devotional subjects. The painting employs chiaroscuro, a technique utilizing strong contrasts between light and shadow, to model the figures with sculptural volume and create a sense of dramatic depth. This approach enhances the emotional resonance and solemnity of the sacred narrative.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Fra Bartolomeo or Bartolommeo (UK: US: Italian:; 28 March 1472 – 31 October 1517), also known as Bartolommeo di Pagholo, Bartolommeo di San Marco, Bartolomeo di Paolo di Jacopo del Fattorino, and his original nickname…
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