The Holy Family
possibly 1527–33
Medium
Oil on oak panel
Dimensions
21 13/16 x 14 9/16 in. (55.4 x 37 cm)
Classification
Paintings
Culture
Netherlandish
Department
Robert Lehman Collection
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Robert Lehman Collection, 1975
Accession Number
1975.1.117
Tags
Art Historical Context
Joos van Cleve’s *The Holy Family*, painted possibly between 1527 and 1533, offers a tender glimpse into one of the most beloved subjects of Northern Renaissance art. A leading Antwerp painter, van Cleve specialized in religious scenes that combined meticulous observation with a warm, human touch. Here, the Virgin Mary and the Christ Child are shown in an intimate domestic setting, inviting viewers to feel a personal connection to the divine figures. Executed in oil on oak panel, the work exemplifies the technical brilliance of Netherlandish painting. The medium allowed van Cleve to achieve l...