Artwork
Holy Family with the Infant St. John
Holy Family with the Infant St. John is an oil painting by the High Baroque Italian artist Francesco Trevisani. It dates from 1700 and is held in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The painting shows Mary holding the infant Jesus while Joseph stands protectively beside them, with the young John the Baptist presented as a divine forerunner.
The painting shows Mary holding the infant Jesus while Joseph stands protectively beside them, with the young John the Baptist presented as a divine forerunner. The composition emphasizes familial tenderness intertwined with prophetic significance, reflecting the Holy Family's role as a sacred unit and John's destined mission of preparation and baptism. This arrangement underscores theological themes of humility, devotion, and the recognition of Christ's divinity through the presence of the infant Baptist.
Symbolically, Mary's gentle gesture conveys maternal care, while Joseph's protective stance reinforces paternal guardianship. The inclusion of John highlights his early awareness of Jesus' sacred purpose, linking the work to broader narratives of redemption and spiritual anticipation within Catholic devotional art.
The work thus represents a devotional focus on the Holy Family as exemplars of faith and the prelude to Christ's earthly ministry, resonating with 18th-century religious sensibilities.
Technique & Style
Created by Francesco Trevisani around 1700, Holy Family with the Infant St. John is executed in oil paint on canvas. The work adheres to the conventions of religious painting, depicting the Holy Family alongside the infant John the Baptist. As a canvas painting from the early 18th century, the medium allows for the characteristic handling and layering associated with Trevisani's style during this period.
History & Provenance
The painting is held by the Art Institute of Chicago, where it is recorded as part of the permanent collection. The available sources do not provide a specific accession number or a documented exhibition history for the work.
Overview
Created in 1700 by the Italian artist Francesco Trevisani, this oil painting presents a quiet domestic scene of the Holy Family accompanied by the infant Saint John the Baptist. The composition gathers Mary, Joseph, the Christ Child, and the young John within a subdued interior, their figures illuminated by a gentle light that emphasizes intimacy and reverence.
Context
The composition reflects the high Baroque tradition in Italy, emphasizing devotional intimacy and dramatic lighting. Trevisani’s approach aligns with the teachings of his mentor Maratta, who advocated classical balance within Baroque dynamism. By integrating a domestic setting with sacred figures, the painting mirrors contemporary Counter‑Reformation aims to make holy narratives accessible to the faithful.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Francesco Trevisani (April 9, 1656 – July 30, 1746) was an Italian painter, active in the period called either early Rococo or late Baroque (barochetto).
- Maria mit Johannes- und Jesusknaben
Holy Family with the Infant St. John
Die Heilige Familie mit dem Johannesknaben
Flucht nach Ägypten
Den hellige familie
Den hellige familie
Kongernes tilbedelse
Kongernes tilbedelse
Adoration of the Shepherds
Mary with the Child and St John the Baptist
Maria mit Kind
Maria mit dem Kinde und dem hl. Joseph