Artwork

La Sagrada Familia

La Sagrada Familia, by Juan Antonio de Frías y Escalante, oil, 1640
La Sagrada Familia, by Juan Antonio de Frías y Escalante, oil, 1640

La Sagrada Familia is an oil painting by the Early Baroque Italian artist Juan Antonio de Frías y Escalante. It dates from 1640 and is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

La Sagrada Familia depicts the Holy Family, with the painting's main subject identified as this sacred grouping.

La Sagrada Familia depicts the Holy Family, with the painting's main subject identified as this sacred grouping. According to the catalogue record, the work portrays Mary, the Christ Child, and Joseph, the three figures central to the iconography of the Holy Family in Christian religious art.

As a religious painting by Juan Antonio de Frías y Escalante, the work belongs to a long devotional tradition of representing the nuclear family of Jesus as a model of piety, domestic harmony, and divine incarnation. The depiction of Mary with the Christ Child alongside Joseph would have served as both a devotional image and a meditation on the mystery of the Incarnation, presenting the human family of Jesus as the visual counterpart to the Holy Trinity.

Technique & Style

La Sagrada Familia is an oil painting executed on canvas. Juan Antonio de Frías y Escalante applied oil paint to depict the Holy Family, with Mary, the Christ Child, and Joseph as the principal figures. The work measures 54.5 cm in height and 45.5 cm in width, reflecting a conventional compositional arrangement within the religious art genre.

Its formal qualities are defined by a naturalistic rendering of the figures and a restrained palette that emphasizes devotional intimacy.

History & Provenance

The painting titled La Sagrada Familia was created in 1640 by Juan Antonio de Frías y Escalante. It is an oil on canvas work depicting the Holy Family, Mary, the Christ Child, and Joseph, and is classified as a religious genre piece. The artwork entered the collection of the Museo del Prado, where it remains on display, reflecting a continuous ownership chain from its inception to the present.

Juan Antonio de Frías y Escalante's 1640 oil painting, La Sagrada Familia, is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado in Madrid. The work is part of the museum's permanent holdings, which classify the piece as a religious artwork depicting Mary, the Christ Child, and Joseph. While the specific inventory or accession number is not detailed in the provided records, the painting's presence at the Prado is confirmed as a core element of its institutional history.

The artwork has been identified within the museum's catalog as a significant example of the artist's output from the mid-17th century.

Context

Painted in 1640 by Juan Antonio de Frías y Escalante, La Sagrada Familia represents a specific moment in Spanish religious art during the mid-seventeenth century. The work is currently held by the Museo del Prado, where it is cataloged as an oil painting on canvas depicting the Holy Family. As a religious genre piece, it contributes to the understanding of Escalante's output and the broader tradition of Spanish devotional imagery from this period.

The painting's inclusion in a major national collection underscores its recognized status within the canon of Spanish Baroque art.

Overview

Juan Antonio de Frías y Escalante’s oil painting La Sagrada Familia (c. 1640) presents a quiet, intimate portrayal of the Holy Family. Executed in the early Baroque idiom, the work is part of the Prado Museum’s collection and exemplifies the Spanish Golden Age’s devotion to religious subjects.

Holy Family
Holy Family, Raffaello Vanni

Artist & collection

Museo del Prado

Museum

Museo del Prado

Continue through works from the same source collection.

This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: Museo del Prado open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.

Reviews

Frequently asked questions

Who painted La Sagrada Familia?

La Sagrada Familia was painted by Juan Antonio de Frías y Escalante in 1640-01-01.

Where can I see La Sagrada Familia?

La Sagrada Familia is held by Museo del Prado.

What movement is La Sagrada Familia?

La Sagrada Familia is associated with Early Baroque Italian.

Can I buy a print of La Sagrada Familia?

Museum-quality prints of La Sagrada Familia are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.