Holy Family with St. John

Art Historical Context

This engraving, created between 1655 1672, presents Holy Family with Saint the Baptist in a tender intimate scene. The centers on the Virgin Mary, the Christ Child Saint Joseph, and the young Saint John, accompanied by sheep that evoke pastoral serenity and biblical symbolism. Produced through the meticulous process of engraving, the work allowed intricate details and religious imagery to reach a wider audience beyond the original painting or drawing, a key function of printmaking in the seventeenth century. The print reflects the enduring popularity of devotional subjects during the Baroque era, when artists across Europe sought to inspire faith through accessible images. Attributed to engravers including William Faithorne the Elder and Herman Weyen, possibly after design by Laurent de La Hyre, it demonstrates the collaborative nature of print production at the time. Such works combined refined line work with emotional warmth, helping to spread Counter-Reformation ideals while showcasing technical skill in capturing light, texture, and human expression on paper. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Department of Drawings and Prints, this sheet measuring roughly 15½ by 10⅜ inches exemplifies how engravings served both spiritual and artistic purposes, preserving sacred narratives for generations of viewers.