Holy Family with Angels

Executed in oil, the painting displays di Cosimo’s characteristic use of vivid, layered pigments, greens, blues, and yellows dominate the palette. The Virgin’s dark gown contrasts with Joseph’s muted yellow‑gray attire, while the angels are rendered in bright green and red garments. Soft modeling and delicate brushwork create a luminous atmosphere, and the landscape background is treated with a gentle, atmospheric perspective.

Created in the early sixteenth century, the work entered the Russian imperial collection during the 19th century and later became part of the State Hermitage Museum’s holdings. Its acquisition reflects the broader European interest in Italian Renaissance art among Russian collectors, and the painting has remained on public display since its transfer to the museum.

Piero di Cosimo, active in Florence, was known for integrating mythological and religious subjects with inventive natural settings. This painting aligns with his later period, when he focused on devotional imagery for private patrons. The inclusion of angels and the pastoral backdrop mirrors contemporary trends that blended sacred narratives with idyllic, almost lyrical environments.