Holy Family With St. John The Baptist And Angels

In terms of style and quality, the work can be associated with the circle of Palma il Giovane (Jacopo Negretti, 1548–1628), a prolific Venetian master active between the 16th and 17th centuries, who made extensive use of copper supports for small and medium-sized devotional works. The vigorous rendering of Saint Joseph and the sweetness of the female faces are similar to iconographic solutions spread by his workshop and by contemporary artists in northern Italy.
The painting depicts the Virgin Mary with the Child Jesus blessing the Infant Saint John the Baptist, recognizable by the small lamb beside him and the characteristic scroll. Saint Joseph, in the guise of an elderly patriarch, and Saint Anne appear nearby. In the background, two angels holding a scroll complete the composition.

The work is executed on copper plate, a rare and valuable medium that allows for fine application and bright, long-lasting colors. The rich draperies, intense faces, and compositional style reveal a late Mannerist style with Venetian influences.