The Holy Family

Laurent de La Hyre

National Gallery of Art

In the image, the upper body of a man, woman, and child are visible. The woman is seated with the child on her lap, facing slightly towards the man who is sitting beside her. She has soft and delicate facial features, with long, flowing hair. The child is looking towards the woman and holds a small bird. The man has a bearded face, with curly hair and is holding a plant stem or reed. They are draped in garments that seem to be made of simple, flowing fabric. They are situated on a stone bench or structure, surrounded by blooming plants to the left, and the backdrop is a textured stone wall with visible lines and details. In the distant background, the sky is suggested by a lack of detail beyond some swirling clouds. At the bottom of the image, there is a line of text in Latin.