Artwork
Holy Family at the fire

Holy Family at the fire is an oil painting by the Early Baroque Italian artist Jan Cornelisz Vermeyen. It dates from 1532 and is held in the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum. Created in 1532 by the Dutch painter Jan Cornelisz.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts the Holy Family, specifically the figures of Mary, the Christ Child, and Joseph, gathered in an interior setting. As a work of religious art created in 1532, the composition centers on this domestic grouping as its main subject. The scene represents the intimate, everyday life of the biblical family, emphasizing their human connection within a humble environment.
Technique & Style
The formal qualities are defined by its classification within the religious art genre, focusing on the intimate domestic setting of the titular fire.
Jan Cornelisz Vermeyen's Holy Family at the fire is executed in oil paint on a panel support, created in 1532. The work measures 66.5 cm in height and 50.5 cm in width. As a religious painting depicting the Holy Family, the piece utilizes the oil medium to render the scene of Mary, the Christ Child, and Joseph.
The formal qualities are defined by its classification within the religious art genre, focusing on the intimate domestic setting of the titular fire.
History & Provenance
The painting titled Holy Family at the fire was created by Jan Cornelisz Vermeyen in 1532. Executed in oil paint on a panel support, the work measures 66.5 cm in height and 50.5 cm in width. It currently resides in the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum.
The sources do not provide specific details regarding the original commission, the initial owner, or the subsequent chain of ownership leading to its current location.
The painting Holy Family at the fire by Jan Cornelisz Vermeyen is held in the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum. Created in 1532, the work is executed in oil paint on a panel measuring 66.5 cm in height and 50.5 cm in width. The available sources confirm its location within this institution but do not provide a specific inventory or accession number. Furthermore, no details regarding the exhibition history of the piece are included in the provided records.
Overview
Created in 1532 by the Dutch painter Jan Cornelisz. Vermeyen, Holy Family at the Fire is an oil painting that belongs to the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum. The work presents a domestic scene illuminated by a modest fire, centering on a mother cradling an infant while other figures gather nearby. Its composition balances intimacy with a subtle narrative focus on familial devotion.
Artist & collection
Artist
Jan Cornelisz. Vermeyen, also known as Juan del Mayo (c. 1503 – 1559) was a Dutch painter, printmaker and tapestry designer. He is known for his portraits, history scenes and genre subjects. He worked in Mechelen and…












