The artwork titled “Holy Family” is an oil on canvas painting created by William-Adolphe Bouguereau in 1863. This piece is a quintessential representation of Neoclassicism and Academicism, measuring 108 x 137 cm. Classified as a religious painting, it currently resides in a private collection.
The artwork portrays an intimate and tender scene featuring a mother and two young children, symbolically representing the Holy Family. The mother, cloaked in a muted red garment with a serene expression, cradles the children lovingly. One child, clad in a rustic attire, leans towards the other, who is nude and perched on the mother’s lap. The background depicts a serene landscape with trees and distant hills, emphasizing the tranquility and divine nature of the scene. Bouguereau’s meticulous attention to detail and his masterful rendering of textures and expressions contribute to the painting’s profound emotional resonance, epitomizing the academic style and grace characteristic of his oeuvre.
