The Holy Family with the infant Saint John kissing Christ's feet
Medium
Etching; second state of two
Dimensions
Sheet (Trimmed): 9 5/16 × 6 1/16 in. (23.6 × 15.4 cm)
Classification
Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Henry Walters, 1917
Accession Number
17.37.181
Art Historical Context
In the intimate etching *The Holy Family with the Saint John Kissing Christ's Feet*, created between 1640 and 1660, Italian artist Giulio Carpioni captures a tender moment of divine devotion. Collaborating with Matteo Cadorin, Carpioni renders the Virgin Mary, Saint Joseph, the Christ Child, and the young Saint John in a compact composition trimmed to 9 5/16 × 6 1/16 inches. This second state of two reflects refinements in the printing process, showcasing the meticulous revisions typical of 17th-century printmaking. Etching, a technique where acid bites into a metal plate to create fine lines...
About the Artist
Giulio Carpioni|Matteo Cadorin · 1613–1678
Comment on works: Allegory; Mythology