Artwork
The Holy Family Preparing to Embark
The Holy Family Preparing to Embark is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo. It dates from 1753 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1753, The Holy Family Preparing to Embark is an etching by Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo. Executed in black and white, the print belongs to the religious genre and illustrates a moment of quiet anticipation before a journey. It demonstrates Tiepolo’s dual practice as both painter and printmaker, a skill set he shared with his artistic family.
Subject & Meaning
The composition depicts a small group gathered beside a boat. A robed figure cradles a child, another robed individual stands nearby, and a third kneels, clutching a staff. The turbulent sea and storm‑filled sky in the background suggest an imminent voyage, while the stillness of the figures conveys a pause for prayer or contemplation before departure.
Technique & Style
Tiepolo employed the etching process, incising fine lines into a metal plate and using acid to create varied depths. Sharp linear work and careful shading generate a sense of volume, allowing the figures to emerge from the busy water. The contrast between dense, textured waves and the illuminated forms of the characters highlights the print’s dramatic yet restrained aesthetic.
History & Provenance
Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo was the son of the celebrated Venetian painter Giovanni Battista Tiepolo and elder brother of Lorenzo Baldissera Tiepolo, both noted for their frescoes and canvases. While primarily known for his paintings, this etching reflects his engagement with printmaking during the mid‑18th century, a period when the Tiepolo workshop produced works for both devotional and commercial audiences.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo (August 30, 1727 – March 3, 1804) was an Italian painter and printmaker in etching. He was the son of artist Giovanni Battista Tiepolo and elder brother of Lorenzo Baldissera Tiepolo.
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Flight into Egypt: The Holy Family Arriving at the Bank of the River
The Flight, Holy Family at the Right, Joseph Looking to the Left
The Madonna, Child, and Angels Entering the Boat
The Holy Family Disembarking- The Flight, Joseph at Right and Mary and Angel at Left