Holy Family by Stefano Mulinari

Holy Family

Stefano Mulinari · 1750

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“Stop and observe the tender intimacy of the Holy Family in this print. The soft light and gentle gestures create a moment of quiet domesticity, inviting you to share in their peaceful scene.”

ABOUT THIS WORK

In this intimate depiction of the Holy Family, Mary, Joseph, and the infant Jesus are nestled together, bathed in a soft, ethereal light. The scene feels tender and quiet, a moment of domestic peace. Joseph, often shown as an older, more distant figure, here leans in, his gaze gentle as he supports the Virgin Mary. Her head, with a delicate halo, is tilted towards the viewer, yet her attention remains focused on the child. The infant Jesus, plump and alert, reaches out, engaging both his parents and us. This etching, possibly with aquatint, uses subtle tonal variations to create depth and atmosphere, a characteristic of printmaking from this period. Stefano Mulinari, born in 1741, would have been quite young, around nine years old, if this print was indeed made in 1750, suggesting the date might be an approximation or that it was produced later in his career.

DETAILS
Artist
Stefano Mulinari
Date
1750
Medium
Etching and aquatint (?)
Location
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Dimensions
sheet: 7 15/16 x 6 5/8 in. (20.2 x 16.9 cm)
Collection
Drawings and Prints
Credit line
Rogers Fund, 1962
LOOK CLOSER

What to Notice

Four details hide in plain sight. Here’s where to look.

Holy Family
01

The delicate halo above Mary's head, almost blending into the light.

02

The way Joseph’s hand gently supports Mary’s back, a gesture of tenderness.

03

The infant Jesus’s chubby hand reaching out towards the viewer.

04

The subtle shading in the background, suggesting a soft, enveloping space.

THE ARTIST

Stefano Mulinari

1741–1790

Italian engraver who transformed devotional scenes into intimate etchings with aquatint and colored washes.

Read Mulinari’s full story
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