The Holy Family with Saint Mary Magdalen
The Met
Artist: Andrea Mantegna(Italian, Isola di Carturo 1430/31–1506 Mantua)
Date: ca. 1495–1500
Department: European Paintings
Classification: Paintings
Medium: Distemper on canvas
Dimensions: 22 1/2 x 18 in. (57.2 x 45.7 cm)
Credit Line: Bequest of Benjamin Altman, 1913
Visual Descriptions
AI GeneratedVisual Summary
Brief Description
A woman holding a child, flanked by two figures, all with halos, dark background, scattered fruit
Detailed Description
Four figures are arranged in a vertical composition against a dark background. In the center, a woman with light skin and a neutral expression looks slightly downward and to her right. She wears a yellow head covering that drapes over her shoulders, a dark green cloak, and a reddish-purple dress. She holds a nude infant with light skin, who stands on her lap, facing forward with a neutral expression. The infant's right leg is bent, and his left leg is extended, with his foot resting in a white, shell-like object on the woman's lap. Both the woman and the infant have golden halos. To the left of the central woman, a bearded man with a receding hairline and a neutral expression looks directly forward. He wears a reddish-orange garment and has a golden halo. To the right of the central woman, another woman with light skin and a neutral expression looks towards the center. She wears a reddish-orange head covering that frames her face and a dark garment, also with a golden halo. The background behind the figures is dark, almost black, with several small, round, orange-red fruits scattered among dark foliage, particularly visible above the central figures. The overall lighting is soft, highlighting the figures against the dark setting.
Generated by gemini-2.5-flash
