De Heilige Familie met Johannes de Doper en H. Elisabeth
c. 1654 - c. 1658
Medium
pen and black ink, with grey wash and opaque white (oxidized), over traces of graphite, on paper toned with light brown wash; indented for transfer; framing line in black ink
Dimensions
388; 314
About this artwork
Ontwerp voor een prent.
Art Historical Context
Cornelis Visscher II (1629–1695), a prominent Dutch engraver of the Golden Age, created this intricate drawing around 1654–1658. Titled *De Heilige Familie met Johannes de Doper en H. Elisabeth* (The Holy Family with John Baptist and Saint Elizabeth), it tenderly portrays a sacred gathering: the Christ Child, Virgin Mary, Saint Joseph, the young John the Baptist, his mother Elizabeth. Such religious scenes remained popular in 17th-century Netherlands, blending Catholic devotion with Protestant restraint, often serving as models for devotional prints that reached wide audiences. This preparato...