The Holy Family
Artist
Dosso Dossi
(Italian, about 1486–1542)
Dateabout 1525
Mediumoil on panel
Dimensionspanel: 28.7 x 26 cm (11 5/16 x 10 1/4 in.)
ClassificationsPaintings
Credit LineMuseum Purchase
Object number1921.79
Label TextDosso spent almost his entire career working as a court painter in Ferrara. During this time, he produced numerous large-scale decorations and countless smaller easel pictures and portraits for Alfonso d’Este, Duke of Ferrara.
The Holy Family is one such small easel painting. The out-door, nocturnal setting for the depiction of the Holy Family is quite unusual. Although there are no specific clues, this setting may suggest that Mary, Joseph and Jesus are resting during their flight to Egypt.
Dosso was known for his use of deep shadows, as well as sprezzatura (a deliberate carelessness of brushstrokes in painting). Both of these techniques can be seen in the sharp contrast between the darkness that almost envelops the figure of Joseph on the left and the bursts of radiant light that catch the leaves in the trees, the edge of the figures’ garments, and the halos above their heads.ProvenancePhilip J. Gentner, Florence ItalyOn View
On view
