Holy Family with Saint Elizabeth and the Young John the Baptist
1568
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1568
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Dominant colour
Holy Family with Saint Elizabeth and the Young John the Baptist is a 1568 ink by Orazio de Santis, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This engraving shows a group of five figures in a dim, rocky space. A woman sits in the center, holding a child. Another child stands beside her, reaching out. To the right, an older man leans forward, while a boy with curly hair kneels nearby. In the background, a smaller figure holds a staff. The artist used fine lines and shading to create deep shadows and textures, like the folds in the woman’s dress or the rough cave walls. This was a common way to add depth to engravings. Next, check out the technique: engraving, cross-hatching to see how artists built up light and shadow.
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