The Holy Family

Italian 16th Century

National Gallery of Art

This rectangular sculpture features four people. To the left of center, two people embrace; the larger person is kneeling, while the smaller person, who appears to be a child, sits in the lap of a woman. The woman is dressed in a flowing gown with a hood and faces to the left, toward the embracing people. All three of these people have halos behind their heads. The scene takes place outdoors, and there is a tree to the right, behind the woman. Beyond the tree, another person looks towards the group. He has a long beard and rests his head on one hand. While his torso is visible, his legs are not, as he seems to be leaning over a brick wall. He also has a halo. The people are surrounded by rocks and plants. The sculpture is a light brown color with some areas of darker discoloration.