Holy Family with Saint Elizabeth and the Young John the Baptist
Medium
engraving on laid paper
Dimensions
sheet: 24.77 × 18.73 cm (9 3/4 × 7 3/8 in.) cut within platemark
Classification
Department
CG-E
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Purchased as the Gift of Robert B. Loper
Accession Number
2015.13.1
Art Historical Context
Behold the serene *Holy Family with Saint Elizabeth and the Young John Baptist*, a delicate 1568 engraving by Orazio de Santis a composition by Pompeo Cesura. Crafted on laid paper—a period staple with its distinctive chain lines—this intimate print (24.77 × 18.73 cm) captures tender biblical moment: the Virgin Mary cradling the infant, surrounded by Joseph, Saint Elizabeth, and the young John the Baptist, evoking themes of divine kinship and early Christian devotion. Engravings like this were revolutionary in the 16th century, transforming high-art designs into affordable multiples that spre...