The Holy Family
Nicolas Poussin·1651
Historical Context
The Holy Family from 1651 at the Getty Museum shows Poussin's mature treatment of the sacred domestic scene. His late Holy Families achieve monumental serenity through the application of mathematical proportion and geometric composition. Poussin developed his religious subjects through intense study of ancient Roman reliefs and Italian Renaissance masters, composing figures as if arranging actors on a stage. His cool, clear palette and sculptural figure treatment were adopted as the foundatio...
Technical Analysis
The figures are arranged with geometrical precision in a classical landscape setting. Poussin's controlled palette and measured proportions create a devotional image of perfect order.
