The artwork “Holy Family” by Nicolas Poussin is a religious painting executed in oil on canvas between the years 1645 and 1650. Embodying the Classical art movement, it measures 97.8 by 129.5 centimeters. Currently, the work resides in the Fogg Museum, part of the Harvard Art Museums, located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States.
The artwork portrays a serene and idealized scene featuring the Holy Family. The Virgin Mary, dressed in rich red and blue garments, holds the Christ Child while seated next to a classical structure. To the left, several putti—an artistic convention depicting small, chubby, naked boys, often with wings—engage in playful activities. One offers fruit to Mary, while others seem to frolic or carry the trappings of a feast, such as a shallow bowl or a woven basket.
Behind Mary, Joseph is depicted resting, with a gentle expression, draped in warm earth tones that both complement and contrast the vibrant colors of Mary’s cloak. To the right, an elderly woman, who might represent Saint Anne, is seen looking at the Christ Child attentively, while a young child, possibly representing Saint John the Baptist, clings closely to her side.
The composition is framed by a classical archway to the left and an expansive pastoral landscape to the right, with a river, distant buildings, and rolling hills contributing to a calm and balanced setting. The peaceful atmosphere and the pastoral backdrop are typical of Poussin’s classicist style, marked by a harmony of form, controlled emotion, and a clear, luminous palette that engages viewers intellectually rather than solely through sensory appeal. This harmonious composition reflects the artist’s adherence to the principles of order, clarity, and rational composition, hallmarks of the Classical art movement.
