Artwork
Return to Nazareth
Return to Nazareth is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Francesco Conti. It dates from 1735 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Technique & Style
Return to Nazareth is executed in oil on canvas. The painting measures 118.2 cm in height and 84.2 cm in width. Created in 1735 by Francesco Conti, the work exemplifies the Italian painter's approach to religious subject matter during the mid-18th century.
The oil medium allows for the rich coloration and detailed handling characteristic of Conti's period and national tradition.
History & Provenance
After its creation, the painting entered the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it is presently housed and displayed.
Return to Nazareth was painted in 1735 by the Italian artist Francesco Conti, who worked in oil on canvas. The work was produced in Italy during Conti’s mature period. After its creation, the painting entered the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it is presently housed and displayed.
The canvas measures approximately 118.2 cm in height and 84.2 cm in width. No further details regarding its original commission or intermediate owners are provided in the available sources.
Return to Nazareth is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art in Cleveland, Ohio. The work, an oil painting on canvas created in 1735, is registered under the accession number 1974.2. While the painting's creation date and physical dimensions are documented, the provided sources do not contain specific records regarding its exhibition history or prior provenance details.
Overview
Francesco Conti’s oil painting Return to Nazareth, executed in 1735, is part of the collection at the Cleveland Museum of Art. The work presents a compact, nocturnal scene populated by three figures whose gestures and expressions suggest a moment of quiet reverence. The composition is dominated by deep shadows that frame a subtle illumination from an unseen source above.
Subject & Meaning
The central figure, a woman cloaked in dark blue, clasps her hands and lowers her gaze, conveying solemn devotion. Beside her, a young girl in a pink dress with a blue sash reaches toward an older man who leans on a staff, hinting at guidance or instruction. The faint, luminous sky overhead adds a spiritual dimension, implying a divine presence overseeing the encounter.
Context
Created during the late Baroque period, Return to Nazareth reflects the era’s fascination with theatrical lighting and emotional narrative. Conti, an Italian painter active in the early 1700s, often incorporated religious themes and intimate domestic scenes, aligning his work with contemporary devotional art intended for private contemplation rather than grand public altarpieces.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
- Return to Nazareth
The Vision of Saint Francis of Assisi
Holy Family
The Flight into Egypt
Het visioen van de heilige Franciscus van Assisi
The Holy Family
The Holy Family
The Holy Family
Adoration of the Shepherds
The Rest on The Flight into Egypt
Adoration of the Shepherds
Presentation Sketch for "The Holy Family with Saints Anne, Joachim, and John the Baptist" (for Santa Maria in Via Lata, Roma)