Artwork

The Holy Family

The Holy Family, by Franz Anton Maulbertsch, oil, 1755
The Holy Family, by Franz Anton Maulbertsch, oil, 1755

The Holy Family is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Franz Anton Maulbertsch. It dates from 1755 and is held in the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

As a religious work, it emphasizes the earthly lineage of Jesus through Mary and Anne while affirming his divine origin via the Father’s inclusion.

The painting depicts Mary, the Christ Child, Saint Anne, and God the Father together, illustrating the Holy Family with the divine Father present. As a religious work, it emphasizes the earthly lineage of Jesus through Mary and Anne while affirming his divine origin via the Father’s inclusion. The composition conveys the unity of the holy lineage and the sanctity of the family within Christian belief.

Technique & Style

Executed in 1755, this religious painting by Franz Anton Maulbertsch utilizes oil paint applied to a canvas support. The work measures 127 cm in height and 90 cm in width. Visually, the composition depicts the Holy Family, specifically featuring the figures of Mary, the Christ Child, Saint Anne, and God the Father within a single pictorial space.

History & Provenance

The Holy Family was painted by Franz Anton Maulbertsch in 1755, executed in oil on canvas. According to the work’s provenance, it has been part of the Belvedere’s collection at the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna since at least the time of its acquisition, though earlier ownership and any original commission are not documented in the available sources. The painting depicts the Virgin Mary, the Christ Child, Saint Anne, and God the Father, reflecting Maulbertsch’s religious oeuvre.

Context

Franz Anton Maulbertsch's 1755 oil painting The Holy Family, depicting Mary, the Christ Child, Saint Anne, and God the Father, occupies a significant position within his religious oeuvre and the broader 18th-century Austrian art tradition. The work is housed in the Belvedere, Kunsthistorisches Museum, reflecting its institutional recognition and preservation within a major cultural repository. Scholarly attention to Maulbertsch's output often contextualizes this piece within the evolution of devotional imagery in Central European painting, though specific critical reception details remain less documented than his technical innovations in fresco and canvas work.

Overview

Franz Anton Maulbertsch’s oil painting The Holy Family was completed in 1755. Executed during the Rococo era, the work presents a compact group of holy figures illuminated against a subdued backdrop. It is part of the permanent holdings of Vienna’s Kunsthistorisches Museum, where it is displayed among the museum’s Baroque and Rococo religious repertoire.

The Holy Family
The Holy Family, Francisco de Goya

Artist & collection

Portrait of Franz Anton Maulbertsch

Artist

Franz Anton Maulbertsch

Franz Anton Maulbertsch (7 June 1724 – 8 August 1796) was an Austrian painter and engraver, one of the most renowned exponents of Rococo painting in the German and Hungarian regions.

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Frequently asked questions

Who painted The Holy Family?

The Holy Family was painted by Franz Anton Maulbertsch in 1755-01-01.

Where can I see The Holy Family?

The Holy Family is held by Kunsthistorisches Museum.

What movement is The Holy Family?

The Holy Family is associated with Rococo painting.

Can I buy a print of The Holy Family?

Museum-quality prints of The Holy Family are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.