Artwork
The Holy Family on the Steps
The Holy Family on the Steps is an oil painting by the Early Baroque Italian artist Nicolas Poussin. It dates from 1648 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Technique & Style
Executed in 1648, this religious painting by Nicolas Poussin is an oil work on canvas. The composition measures 73.3 cm in height and 105.8 cm in width. Created in France, the piece exemplifies the artist's approach to sacred subjects through the medium of oil paint applied to a woven support.
History & Provenance
The work entered the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it remains held under accession number 1981.
The Holy Family on the Steps is an oil painting on canvas by Nicolas Poussin, dated 1648 and produced in France. The work entered the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it remains held under accession number 1981.18. Its measured dimensions are 73.3 cm in height by 105.8 cm in width.
No further details regarding an original commissioner, intermediate owners, or chain of custody prior to the Cleveland Museum of Art's acquisition are documented in the available sources.
The Holy Family on the Steps is a 1648 oil painting by Nicolas Poussin, classified as a religious work and listed as a painting in the Cleveland Museum of Art's collection. It is accessioned under the number 1981.18 and is displayed at the museum in Cleveland, Ohio. The canvas measures 73.3 cm in height and 105.8 cm in width, and it was created in France. The piece is recorded as part of the museum's holdings of European religious art.
Overview
Nicolas Poussin completed The Holy Family on the Steps in 1648, an oil painting that exemplifies his classical approach to religious subjects. Now part of the collection at The Cleveland Museum of Art, this work presents a structured composition focused on the intimate interactions of its figures. It reflects the artist's mature style, characterized by a clear narrative and a balanced, thoughtful arrangement.
Subject & Meaning
The painting portrays the Virgin Mary holding the infant Jesus, who reaches for an apple she offers. Saint Joseph sits beside them, observing the tender moment. A woman in a yellow robe kneels to the left, gazing at the central figures.
This gathering unfolds on a series of stone steps, framed by classical columns and set against a distant blue sky, suggesting both domestic intimacy and a grand, timeless setting.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Nicolas Poussin (UK: US: French:; June 1594 – 19 November 1665) was a leading painter of the classical French Baroque style, although he spent most of his working life in Rome.
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