European

Antonio Circignano

Italy 1560-1620
The Holy Family 25.0058

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The term 'Holy Family' is used to describe any combination of figures present in the narrative account of Christ's infancy and early childhood. In this painting the artist has represented Joseph, Mary and the Christ child in a landscape, which may refer to the flight into Egypt (Matthew 2:13-15). Warned in a dream that Herod was searching for the infant in order to kill him, Joseph took his family away to safety in Egypt where they remained until Herod's death. Antonio Circignano (pronunciation) studied painting under his father, Niccolo Circignano, with whom he completed many religious commissions in Rome. His work was influenced by two more well-known painters, Federico Barocci and Christoforo Roncalli, whose sweeping movement, delicate faces, and pastel colors Circignano adopted.

 

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