The Holy Family with Saint Elizabeth and the Infant John the Baptist

The Holy Family with Saint Elizabeth and the Infant John the Baptist is a profound drawing by the Italian master Andrea Mantegna, executed approximately between 1500 and 1535. This work, dating from the final period of Mantegna’s life, exemplifies the profound devotional intensity characteristic of Renaissance Italy as the style transitioned into the High Renaissance. The piece is classified as a drawing, utilizing pen and brown ink as the foundation for the composition, enhanced by brush and subtle greenish gray and brown washes to establish volume and shadow.

Mantegna’s characteristic technical precision is evident in the finely delineated contours of the figures. He relies on detailed pen work to define the drapery and features, giving the composition a sculptural gravity derived from his classical influences. The complexity of the medium is heightened by the subsequent application of a gray wash in the background, which art historical analysis suggests was applied by a later hand, possibly to increase the sense of depth or complete the tonal modeling of the scene.

The intimate subject centers on the revered grouping of the Holy Family-the Virgin Mary, Christ, and Joseph-accompanied by Saint Elizabeth and the infant Saint John the Baptist. This familial and religious narrative was extremely popular during the period, providing artists with an opportunity to depict tender human interaction within a spiritual context. Saint John the Baptist is typically shown in adoration or protective engagement with the Christ Child, solidifying the narrative focus on the relationship between the two cousins. This rare and significant drawing is part of the esteemed collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. High-quality prints and reference images of this masterwork are often accessible via public domain repositories, allowing wide access to Mantegna’s late style.