Saint Joseph in Half-Length, Holding the Christ Child

1650/1657

Bartolomeo Biscaino

Associated Names
Bartolomeo Biscaino

Artist, Genoese, 1629 - 1657

The image depicts an engraving of two figures, showing a full view of an infant and the upper body of an older man. The older man is seated or standing closely, leaning his head against the infant. Facial features of the older man include a prominent forehead, a Roman nose, and a full beard. The infant has a plump face with curly hair and seems to be lying in the arms of the man. Their clothing is not clearly defined beyond shadows hinting at draped fabric. No jewelry is visible. The figures appear to be illuminated from behind or within, as indicated by the line work representing light rays around the infant's head. The background is mainly crosshatched shading, and the scene is within a rectangular frame on aged paper with handwritten notations above and below the engraved area.

Media Options

This object’s media is free and in the public domain. Read our full Open Access policy for images.

Artwork overview

  • Medium

    etching on laid paper, mounted on an album sheet

  • Credit Line

    Gift of Alessandra Manning Dolnier

  • Dimensions

    sheet: 9.8 × 10.9 cm (3 7/8 × 4 5/16 in.)
    mount: 17.9 × 14.9 cm (7 1/16 × 5 7/8 in.)

  • Accession Number

    2018.113.17

  • Catalogue Raisonné

    Bartsch, no. 31


Artwork history & notes

Provenance

Robert and Bertina Suida Manning, Forest Hills, NY; by descent Alessandra Manning and Kurt Dolnier, Watertown, CT, 1996; Gift to NGA, 2018

Associated Names

Bibliography

1802

  • Bartsch, Adam. Le peintre graveur. 21 vols. Vienna, 1802-1821: no. 31

Inscriptions

by later hand, upper verso in pen and brown ink: [not deciphered}... Biscaino... ; by later hand, upper left of mount in graphite: 16x [crossed out] / 14 1/4 x 19 1/4; by later hand, lower center of album sheet in graphite: B. P. Gr. vol XXI pag 197 No. 31.


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