Antique Painted Panel—*the Holy Family*—venetian-cretan School, 16th Century

An antique oil painting on wood depicting the Virgin and Child with Saint Joseph.
Cretan-Venetian School, dating from the 16th century-
The Cretan-Venetian (or Post-Byzantine) school is a painterly movement that flourished in Crete under the rule of the Venetian Republic (1204–1669), characterized by a fusion of Byzantine icons and Venetian Renaissance influences. This artistic tradition, active between the 15th and 17th centuries, blends Eastern traditions with Italian colors and volumetric rendering.
Iconography: It developed between the late 15th and 17th centuries, with Crete as its driving force.
Style: A fusion of Eastern tradition (gold ground, hieratic style) and Venetian stylistic elements.
Themes: Virgin Odigitria, Glikophilousa, Galaktotrophousa.
Technique: Primarily tempera on panel, influenced by Venetian painting (often featuring intense colors and highlights).
Artists: The Cretan-Venetian context produced painters who united the two artistic worlds.
The works of this period represent a unique artistic language, born from the absorption of Venetian stylistic innovations by Orthodox artists working on the island.
The panel shows signs of restoration, particularly on the feet of the infant Jesus and the hand of Joseph—
DIMENSIONS: HEIGHT 52 CM – WIDTH 43.5 CM – THICKNESS 1.5 CM