Holy Family with the Infant Saint John the Baptist (Mantegna)
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| Holy Family with the Infant Saint John the Baptist | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Artist | Andrea Mantegna |
| Year | 1500 |
| Medium | tempera on canvas |
| Dimensions | 71 cm × 50.5 cm (28 in × 19.9 in) |
| Location | National Gallery, London |
The Holy Family with the Infant Saint John the Baptist is a tempera on canvas painting measuring 71 cm by 50.5 cm.[1] It is attributed to Andrea Mantegna, dated to around 1500 and now held in the National Gallery, London.[2] Due to its poor conservation the autograph is unclear, so some scholars do not directly attribute it to Mantegna. Those that do argue its idea and format definitely refer to autographed works by him.
The parapet on which the Christ Child and the infant John the Baptist stand also encloses the Virgin Mary, referring to the Virgin birth of Jesus and the hortus conclusus of the Virgin Mary's virginity. John holds a scroll and points to Christ, who holds a sphere representing his earthly power. In the background is Saint Joseph in a red cloak.