The Holy Family with Saint John the Baptist
The Met
Artist: Nicolas Poussin(French, Les Andelys 1594–1665 Rome)
Date: ca. 1627
Department: European Paintings
Classification: Paintings
Medium: Oil on canvas
Dimensions: 30 x 25 in. (76.2 x 63.5 cm)
Credit Line: Bequest of Lore Heinemann, in memory of her husband, Dr. Rudolf J. Heinemann, 1996
Visual Descriptions
AI GeneratedVisual Summary
Brief Description
A woman holding a baby, a kneeling man, and small nude figures in an outdoor setting with a tree and ruins.
Detailed Description
The painting depicts a gathering of figures in an outdoor setting, dominated by a large tree and architectural ruins on the left. In the center, a woman with light skin, wearing a red dress and a blue cloak draped over her lap, sits on the ground. A white veil covers her head. She holds a baby with light skin, who is partially clothed in a white cloth, in her arms. The baby reaches towards her face. To the woman's left, a man with a beard, wearing a brown tunic and a yellow cloak, kneels, looking down at the woman and baby. He holds a piece of white cloth. Behind him, a large brown column rises. Numerous small, nude figures, resembling children or cherubs, surround the central group. Several are on the ground to the right of the woman, some holding baskets of fruit or garlands of flowers. One of these small nude figures on the far right embraces a white lamb. Others are depicted flying or climbing in the branches of the large tree that dominates the upper center of the composition. Some of these airborne figures also hold small branches or garlands. The background features a dark blue sky with lighter clouds, and a distant landscape with rolling hills on the right. The overall palette includes rich blues, reds, browns, and greens.
Generated by gemini-2.5-flash
