1490
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
Dominant colour
The Holy Family, with the Infant St. John is a 1490 by Raphael, a High Renaissance work, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.
This print shows a man with a beard and halo holding a staff, kneeling beside a woman in a headscarf. A baby sits on her lap while another child, also haloed, plays nearby. Behind them, a crumbling stone wall and arched doorway suggest a ruined building. The man’s serious pose and the halos hint at a religious story. The artist used shading to give the figures depth, making them stand out against the rough background. Look up sfumato next to see how artists like this softened edges for a smoky effect.
A print on paper reproduces a study by Raphael titled *The Holy Family, with the Infant St. John*, also known as *La Vierge à longue cuisse*. The composition depicts the Virgin Mary, the Christ Child, and the young Saint John the Baptist in a domestic setting. The work reflects Raphael’s early engagement with religious subject matter and humanist themes.
Read the full account in the museum source.
Raphael was born Raffaello Sanzio in Urbino on April 6, 1483, the son of Giovanni Santi, a painter and poet attached to the ducal court.
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