
The Holy Family
Simone Cantarini made this, aged about 18. It is now at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC. More about this work
About this work
The artwork depicts four human figures, two males and two females, seated. One woman holds a baby, while one man holds a young child. The figures have different hairstyles and clothing, sitting in a natural setting with trees and hills in the background. The scene is drawn in a sketch-like style, focusing on lines and expressions.
Description from the National Gallery of Art.
Simone Cantarini made this, aged about 18. It is now at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC.
How it was made
- Etching
- The artist draws with a needle through a waxy coating on a copper plate, and acid bites the exposed lines. The plate is then inked, wiped and printed under pressure, so the line keeps the freedom of drawing.
- Laid paper
- Handmade on a mould of close-set wires, which leave fine parallel lines you can see when the sheet is held to the light.
Rights and the museum’s record
Public domain. The National Gallery of Art has dedicated this image to the public domain under CC0, so anyone may copy, adapt and use it, for any purpose, without asking. Our prints and files are reproductions made from the museum’s image; the museum doesn’t endorse them.
- Object number
- 1971.37.11
- Credit
- Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington
- Type
- Licence
- CC0 1.0 Universal
- Museum record
- See it on the museum’s site










