Holy Family
mid-16th century
Medium
Engraving
Dimensions
sheet: 4 1/2 x 6 1/4 in. (11.5 x 15.8 cm) (inset)
Classification
Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Leo Steinberg, 2008
Accession Number
2008.577.1
Art Historical Context
Created in the mid-16th century by Lambert Suavius, *Holy Family* is a delicate engraving that captures one of the most enduring subjects in Christian art. The small sheet, measuring just 4½ by 6¼ inches, depicts the tender gathering of the Virgin Mary, Saint Joseph, and the Christ Child. Such intimate portrayals invited quiet contemplation, whether in a private home or a collector’s cabinet. Engraving was a groundbreaking medium during this period, allowing images to be reproduced and shared far beyond the original plate. Suavius’s precise lines and subtle modeling demonstrate the technique’...
About the Artist
Lambert Suavius · 1510–1576
Lambert Suavius (c.1510–c.1574/76), whose Flemish family name was Zutman, was born in Liège, in the southern Netherlands. He was the son of an episcopal goldsmith, Henri Zutman, and from his father's craft environment he inherited a training in the precise handling of metal and an appreciation for fine detail work. He became closely associated with his brother-in-law Lambert Lombard, the leading a...