Holy Family and the Family of Saint John the Baptist
Andrea Mantegna·1504
Historical Context
Andrea Mantegna's Holy Family and the Family of Saint John the Baptist, painted around 1504 and now in the Basilica of Sant'Andrea, Mantua, is one of the artist's final works, created in the city where he served the Gonzaga court for over forty years. The intimate family grouping reflects the growing devotion to the extended Holy Family in early 16th-century Italian art. Mantegna died in 1506, ending a career that had fundamentally shaped the development of Renaissance painting in northern Italy.
Technical Analysis
Mantegna's late technique maintains his precise drawing and classical dignity while showing a warmth in the family grouping that softens his characteristically sculptural approach, representing the final evolution of his six-decade career.
