The Holy Family with St. Anna and the Boy John
about 1540 | Agnolo di Cosimo, gen. Bronzino
The Boy John occupies the prime position. Looks and gestures point to the child Jesus who is presented frontally to the viewer. Standing behind them is Mary, caressing her son lovingly. The composition is extended by Anna and Joseph. Bronzino enhances the sharply contoured and sculpture-like depiction to a stone-like coldness, encompassing particularly the two boys; this may well be an instance of the competition thought to exist between painting and sculpture that was debated time and again in the art theory of the period.
The Boy John occupies the prime position. Looks and gestures point to the child Jesus who is presented frontally to the viewer. Standing behind them is Mary, caressing her son lovingly. The composition is extended by Anna and Joseph. Bronzino enhances the sharply contoured and sculpture-like depiction to a stone-like coldness, encompassing particularly the two boys; this may well be an instance of the competition thought to exist between painting and sculpture that was debated time and again in the art theory of the period.
Artist:
Agnolo di Cosimo, gen. Bronzino (1503 Monticelli bei Florenz - 1572 Florenz) DNB
Time:
about 1540
Object Name
Painting
Culture
Italian, middle Italian
Material/technology:
Poplar wood
Dimensions:
126,8 cm × 101,5 cm × 5,8 cm
Framed: 148,5 cm × 123,5 cm × 13,6 cm
Signed
Inscribed on the stone under the left foot of the Child Jesus: BROZINO FIORETINO
Copyright
Kunsthistorisches Museum, Gemäldegalerie
Invs.
Gemäldegalerie, 183
Provenance
Grand Ducal sisters, Florence; 1792 by exchange from Florence to Vienna