Artwork
La Sagrada Familia con santa Isabel y san Juanito
La Sagrada Familia con santa Isabel y san Juanito is an oil painting by the High Baroque Italian artist Luca Giordano. It dates from 1699 and is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts a religious scene centered on the Holy Family, specifically featuring the Christ Child alongside Elizabeth and the young John the Baptist.
The painting depicts a religious scene centered on the Holy Family, specifically featuring the Christ Child alongside Elizabeth and the young John the Baptist. As indicated by the title and iconographic elements, the work portrays the meeting of the two families, a common theme in Christian art where the infant John acknowledges Jesus. The composition includes specific details such as basketry, which adds a domestic texture to the sacred encounter.
Created in 1697 by Luca Giordano, the piece functions as a devotional image representing the sanctity of the Holy Family and the prophetic role of the Baptist from childhood.
Technique & Style
The work is an oil painting executed on a wooden panel, a support typical of late‑17th‑century Spanish devotional art. Luca Giordano applied thin layers of oil to the panel to achieve a luminous surface that emphasizes the intimate grouping of the Holy Family with Saint Elizabeth and the young John the Baptist. Measuring 49 cm by 38 cm, the composition combines delicate gestures with rich colour modulation, reflecting the Baroque concern for dynamic movement and emotive expression.
The painting entered the Spanish royal collection through Elisabeth Farnese and is now housed in the Museo del Prado.
History & Provenance
The painting was created by Luca Giordano in 1697, executed in oil on panel. It was owned by Elisabeth Farnese, indicating its early provenance within a royal collection. The work subsequently entered the holdings of the Museo del Prado, where it is currently held as part of the museum's collection.
The work is held in the Museo del Prado, Madrid, with inventory number P001619.
It was first recorded in the Spanish royal collection under Queen Elisabeth Farnese, later entering the Museo del Prado by 1819 as part of the Prado’s inaugural holdings.
Overview
Luca Giordano's 1699 oil painting, "La Sagrada Familia con santa Isabel y san Juanito," portrays a significant religious gathering. This artwork, currently housed at the Museo del Prado, depicts the Holy Family alongside Saint Elizabeth and the young Saint John the Baptist, capturing a moment of serene interaction. The composition employs a rich palette and dynamic lighting to convey its sacred narrative.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Luca Giordano was an Italian late-Baroque painter and printmaker in etching. Giordano was one of the most celebrated artists of the Neapolitan Baroque, whose vast output included altarpieces, mythological paintings and…
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