The Holy Family
Classification
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Accession Number
1896-31-90
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
**The Holy Family** is a delicate print created by French artist Simon Julien in 1773, now housed in the Smithsonian American Art Museum's. Julien, active from 1735 to 1800, worked during the vibrant artistic scene of pre-Revolutionary France, a time when religious themes like the Holy Family—depicting Mary, Joseph, the Christ child—remained central to devotional art. These intimate scenes symbolized faith, family, and divine protection, resonating deeply with Catholic audiences amid the Enlightenment's growing secular influences. As a print, work exemplifies the era's innovative reproductive...