1739
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Holy Family and Four Saints is a 1739 ink by John Baptist Jackson, a Baroque work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This woodcut shows a group of figures in dramatic poses against a plain background. On the right, a seated person in robes holds a small child, while another figure kneels beside them. To the left, a bearded man with wings stretches out his arms, as if reaching toward the group. The lines are bold and dark, with some areas left lighter, creating strong contrasts. The artist used a technique called *chiaroscuro*, which means playing with light and shadow to make figures pop. The woodcut’s rough texture and bold outlines give it an almost sketchy, urgent feel. Want to see more? Look up woodcut to learn how artists like this made prints before photography.
John Baptist Jackson (1701–1780) was a British artist, a woodcut printmaker of the eighteenth century.
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