Who painted Holy Family?

Holy Family was painted by Godfried Maes in 1682-01-01.

Where can I see Holy Family?

Holy Family is held by Hermitage Museum.

What movement is Holy Family?

Holy Family is associated with Flemish Baroque painting.

Can I buy a print of Holy Family?

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

Artwork

Holy Family

Godfried Maes , 1692

Holy Family is an oil painting by the Flemish Baroque painting artist Godfried Maes. It dates from 1692 and is held in the collection of the Hermitage Museum.

About this work

Technique & Style

The painting measures 102 cm in height and 76 cm in width, reflecting typical dimensions for late 17th‑century Flemish religious works.

The work is executed in oil paint on canvas and classified as a religious painting. It depicts the Virgin Mary, the Christ Child, and Saint Joseph in the Holy Family composition. The painting measures 102 cm in height and 76 cm in width, reflecting typical dimensions for late 17th‑century Flemish religious works.

Its formal qualities align with the naturalistic modeling and intimate grouping characteristic of Maes’s devotional imagery, while the handling of light and color underscores the artist’s technical mastery of oil on canvas.

History & Provenance

The painting Holy Family was created by Godfried Maes in 1682 as an oil on canvas work, likely produced in Flanders. It entered the collection of the Hermitage Museum, where it remains on display. The composition depicts Mary, the Christ Child, and Joseph in a religious scene characteristic of the period. The work measures 102 cm in height and 76 cm in width.

Context

Godfried Maes painted The Holy Family in 1682, a religious oil painting now housed in the Hermitage Museum. The work depicts Mary, the Christ Child, and Joseph, reflecting the devotional subject matter common in 17th-century Flemish art. Maes, active in the late 1600s, contributed to the regional tradition of sacred genre scenes, as evidenced by his documented output in Flanders.

Overview

Created in 1692 by the Antwerp‑based Flemish artist Godfried Maes, this oil painting presents a compact group of three figures in a dimly lit, rocky interior. The work exemplifies the dramatic chiaroscuro typical of late‑Baroque religious scenes, with the central child illuminated against a dark backdrop.

Subject & Meaning

The composition shows the infant Jesus held by Mary, who kneels and reaches toward the child, while Joseph stands behind them, his hand poised near his face. The intimate gesture emphasizes the familial bond and the theological focus on the Holy Family as a model of devotion.