Painting Detail
Holy FamilyArtist: Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn
Medium: Painting, Oil on canvas, 117x91 cm
Date: 1645
Genre: Christianity, Religious
Source: Collection of baron L.A. Crozat de Tierra, Paris, 1772
In the 1640s Rembrandt produced several works on the subject of the Holy Family. The world of peace and love, lost after the death of his wife Saskia, seemed possible once more after the appearance in Rembrandt's house in 1645 of Hendrickje Stoffels. It has been suggested that the features of Hendrickje are to seen in the face of the Virgin Mary and that the little child asleep in the cradle is Titus, son of Rembrandt and Saskia.
Joseph is hard at work at his bench, but the yoke in his hand may also be linked with the legend that Christ would free the people of Israel from the yoke. Mary slightly opens the curtain to look at the face of her son, her face radiating the light of love and tenderness. The warmth of the home is felt in the brownish gloom of the peaceful household, into which a clear golden light pierces, accompanying the hovering little angels. The red cloth which covers the cradle of the Messiah rings out like a declaration.