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Saint Joseph and the Christ Child

Domenico Maria Viani

1694

ink

paper

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Baroque Baroque Religious

Dominant colour

Saint Joseph and the Christ Child is a 1694 ink by Domenico Maria Viani, a Baroque work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: Domenico Maria Viani
When & what style?: 1694 · Baroque
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This drawing shows an older man with curly hair and a long beard holding a staff, sitting on a rock. He’s holding a small child who looks up at him. Behind them is a rough stone wall with a small statue on top. The man’s face is relaxed, and the child’s expression is calm. The artist used shading to make the figures look three-dimensional, almost like sculpture. The lines are precise but soft, giving the scene a gentle feel. This is an example of the technique: etching.