Sacra Christi Familia c. 1776 - 1808

Editor: So, this is "Sacra Christi Familia" by James Barry. I find it quite a melancholic scene despite the familial setting. What do you see in this piece? Curator: Oh, it’s a dance between light and shadow, isn't it? Like a memory half-remembered. The way Barry uses line work… it's almost feverish. It speaks to the precariousness of… well, everything, doesn’t it? Look how Joseph broods – do you think he knows something we don't? Editor: That's a great point about Joseph. I hadn't considered his expression in that light. Curator: These old masters, they whisper secrets if you let them. I wonder, what secrets do you think *you* could coax out of this image? Editor: I guess I see the family as trapped in something like a prison. This makes me think there is a larger story being presented that is not apparent at first glance. Curator: Exactly, exactly! And isn't that the joy of art? To keep you guessing?