The Holy Family

Simone Cantarini

National Gallery of Art

There is an image of a woman and child seated, along with two other figures. The woman is on the left, seated with visible upper body. She has styled hair gathered at the top and delicate facial features turned slightly toward the child in front of her. She wears a long garment that goes down to her feet. The child, nude, stands on the woman's lap, touching her face with both hands. Another child leans over her shoulder and a bearded man is seated to their right, propping his head on his hand. The children have soft curls in their hair, while the man's hair and beard are more rugged. The background is minimal, with an architectural element on the far left suggesting a column and lines indicating drapery around the figures. The image appears to be a sketch or an engraving, using line work to define the figures and their clothing.