Federazione Italiana Mercanti d'Arte

Holy Family with the Infant Saint John the Baptist and Saint Elizabeth.

Emilian School - First half of the 18th century

Holy Family with the Infant Saint John the Baptist and Saint Elizabeth.
Oil on canvas
Emilian School
First half of the 18th century

Period gilt frame
Canvas dimensions: cm 33 x 42
Frame dimensions: cm 43 x 53

The painting is likely a delightful *bozzetto* (preliminary sketch)—executed with great skill—intended for the creation of a major, large-scale work.

The composition is developed through an excellent interplay of gazes among the figures.

The Christ Child, illuminated from the front at the center of the scene, reaches out toward the infant Saint John the Baptist, who looks him in the eye.

The Virgin, also bathed in light in the upper part of the canvas, inclines her gentle face toward Elizabeth, who in turn meets Joseph's gaze.

The arrangement of the figures demonstrates great compositional skill.

The artist succeeds in giving prominence to every character in the scene within a distinctly pyramidal structure.

The group of figures—defined by a strong contrast between light and shadow—stands out against the lightly sketched background landscape, creating a striking three-dimensional effect.

The work is in very good condition and retains its original frame.

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