The artwork “Charity (The Family of the Artist)” is an oil on panel painting by Hans Holbein the Younger, created around 1528 in Germany. It is a portrait measuring 76.8 by 64 cm and is part of the collection at the Palais des Beaux-Arts de Lille in Lille, France. This work exemplifies the Northern Renaissance art movement, characterized by its detailed realism and emphasis on domestic life.
The painting depicts a woman, presumed to be the wife of the artist, gazing off to her right with a somber or contemplative expression. She wears a black garment with a low, square neckline exposing her shoulders, and a white headscarf that envelops her hair, framing her face. Her slightly pursed lips and the delicate modeling of her facial features add to the artwork’s intimate and lifelike aura.
To her left, a young boy, likely the artist’s son, gazes up towards her, his hand gently resting on her arm. His expression is one of curiosity or earnest attention, which is highlighted by the light illuminating his fair hair and youthful face. He is clad in a dark-toned garment with a white collar, which contrasts with the deeper background.
On the woman’s right arm is perched a toddler, also presumed to be one of Holbein’s children. The child looks out toward the viewer with an innocent and slightly quizzical expression, clutching the woman’s shoulder for support. The child is dressed in a dress with a golden-brown skirt and cream-colored sleeves; the dress’s fullness and the careful rendering of its folds display Holbein’s skill in textile depiction.
The group is presented against a dark, undefined background that brings the figures into sharp focus. The contrast between the somber background and the delicate skin tones of the figures emphasizes the painter’s mastery of light and shadow, both hallmarks of Renaissance portraiture. The intimacy of the scene and the carefully observed details underscore the personal nature of the work, likely making it a family portrait that was not only a demonstration of the artist’s skill but also a personal keepsake.
