Holy Family with Saint John the Baptist kissing the infant Christ's hand

Art Historical Context

In this delicate etching from around 1642, Italian artist Simone Cantarini captures a tender moment in Christian iconography: the Holy FamilyMary, Joseph, and infant Jesus—with the young John the Baptist reverently kissing Christ's hand. Cantarini, a Bolognese painter and printmaker active in the 17th century, drew inspiration from the emotive religious themes popular in Baroque art, blending classical grace with intimate devotion. This small-scale work (just 5 by 3½ inches) invites viewers into a scene of divine affection, symbolizing John's prophetic role as the forerunner to Jesus. Etching, Cantarini's favored medium here, involved incising lines into a metal plate with acid, allowing for precise, fluid strokes that convey the softness of fabrics, the curve of cheeks, and the warmth of familial bonds. Prints like this were revolutionary for their time, enabling wider dissemination of sacred imagery beyond grand paintings, making art accessible to collectors and the faithful alike. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department (acquired via the Harris Brisbane Dick Fund in 1926), this piece exemplifies the era's fusion of spirituality and technical virtuosity, offering a quiet meditation on faith amid the grandeur of Baroque Europe.

About the Artist

Simone Cantarini · 1612–1648

He was one of the most eminent pupils of Guido Reni and one of the most gifted engravers in the tradition of the Carracci. He had a strong personality and developed a highly original style, which united aspects of Bolognese classicism with a bold naturalism. Comment on works: Religious