The Holy Family 1675

Sassoferrato painted "The Holy Family" in oils sometime in the mid-seventeenth century. The painting reflects the ideals of the Counter-Reformation, where art was seen as a tool to reinforce Catholic doctrine. We see the key figures of the Christian faith in a sentimental grouping, and the idealized faces and smooth finish were intended to inspire piety and reverence in the viewer. But the artist doesn't achieve the powerful drama of, say, Caravaggio. Sassoferrato was part of a classical revival that privileged idealized form and harmony, and this reflects the more conservative cultural trends within the institutions of the church at the time. To understand Sassoferrato’s paintings, we have to look at religious writings of the period, the directives issued to artists by the church, and the biographies of leading figures who commissioned these works. By paying attention to social context, we can avoid present-day judgements about what is good or bad taste.