Heilige Familie met de jonge Johannes de Doper

About this artwork

verzamelaarsmerk, verso, gestempeld: Lugt 240

Art Historical Context

Behold the delicate etching *Heilige Familie met jonge Johannes de Doper (Holy Family with the John the Baptist) by Carlo Innocenzo Carl, a masterful Italian artist active during the late Baroque era (c. 1696–1775). This intimate print captures a tender moment from Christian iconography: the Virgin Mary, Christ Child, Saint Joseph, and the infant John the Baptist, emphasizing themes of divine innocence and familial piety that resonated deeply in Counter-Reformation Europe. Carlone, renowned for his grand frescoes and sculptures in Lombard churches, showcases his versatility here in a smaller, reproducible format, bridging monumental religious art with personal devotion. Crafted as an etching—a precise intaglio technique where acid etches lines into a metal plate—this 213 × 150 mm work highlights the medium's prowess for fine detail and tonal depth. Etchings like this allowed Baroque artists to disseminate sacred imagery widely, making high art accessible to collectors and the faithful beyond grand cathedrals. The subtle play of light and shadow evokes the emotional intensity of Carlone's larger-scale Baroque style, inviting contemplation of spirituality in everyday spaces. On the verso, a stamped collector's mark (Lugt 240) attests to its esteemed provenance, linking this piece to generations of discerning European connoisseurs. A gem of 18th-century printmaking, it reminds us how such works preserved religious narratives amid shifting cultural tides.