Francisco de Zurbarán and workshop (1598-1664) - The Holy Family

After Velazquez, Zurbarán is certainly the most famous Spanish painter in the world thanks to the great plastic qualities of his paintings. The alternation of light and shadow contributes to the expressive power of his work. Our Holy Family can be compared to Zurbarán's recurring theme of the Virgin and Child. Indeed, we find the same position of the Virgin leaning with tenderness over her child, her face next to that of Jesus. This movement is largely similar to that adopted in his series of the Virgin of Mercy, one of which is in the Lazaro Galdiano Museum and the other in the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum (see attached photos).

We know of other paintings by the master depicting the Child Jesus sitting on his mother's lap, blessing with his right hand and leaning on the globe.

The work was originally larger: it was trimmed to fit into this tondo frame.

We believe that this composition was made in Zurbarán's workshop between 1640 and 1660.