Who painted The Holy Family with Saint John the Baptist?

The Holy Family with Saint John the Baptist was painted by Cesare Roberti in 1644.

Where can I see The Holy Family with Saint John the Baptist?

The Holy Family with Saint John the Baptist is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is The Holy Family with Saint John the Baptist?

The Holy Family with Saint John the Baptist is associated with Baroque.

Can I buy a print of The Holy Family with Saint John the Baptist?

Museum-quality prints of The Holy Family with Saint John the Baptist are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

The Holy Family with Saint John the Baptist

Cesare Roberti , 1644

The Holy Family with Saint John the Baptist is an ink print by the Baroque artist Cesare Roberti. It dates from 1644 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

Inscription: Inscribed:lower right in plate: SC:PIXF. CRF; by later hand, verso upper center, in graphite: Pond's Sale-1760/no. 36; by later hand, verso upper center, in pen and brown ink: Blackburn Sale-1786/C'IVE; by later hand, verso center, in graphite: Guido; by later hand, verso center, in graphite: Not [underlined] Guido/ C.R.=Carlo Ridolfi/ or Cesare Roberti/ (after Simone Cantarini); by later hand, verso lower center, in graphite: fine f[illegible]re/ 10.6; by later hand, verso lower right, in brown ink: No. 11/12I; by later hand, verso lower right, in graphite: 25; by later hand, verso bottom edge, in graphite: G.R. Bartsch. Vol. 18 Not Guido
Markings: Marked:stamp, lower right, black rosette in circle (L. 2775); collector's mark [?], verso lower right in purple ink: I.G.L.[?] [in a circle] 2.22.

About this work

Overview

The Holy Family with Saint John the Baptist is a c. 1644 etching and engraving on laid paper by Cesare Roberti, depicting a serene indoor scene with four key figures.

Subject & Meaning

The print portrays a contemplative domestic moment: the Virgin sits with the infant Jesus on her lap, accompanied by a kneeling Saint John the Baptist as a child, emphasizing early Christian harmony and devotion.

Technique & Style

Roberti employed strong, textured lines to define the figures' facial expressions and clothing. Shading and cross-hatching techniques create a three-dimensional effect, while a window frame inserts a contrasting outdoor vista, adding compositional depth.

History & Provenance

Created around 1644, specific provenance details are not provided in the available information.

Context

This work reflects the Baroque period's emphasis on emotive, detailed religious art. The use of etching and engraving was common for disseminating religious themes to a broader audience during this time.

Legacy

The print's impact or influence on subsequent art is not detailed in the provided sources, focusing instead on its technical and thematic characteristics.