The Holy Family 1543

Jean Mignon created this engraving titled, The Holy Family, in France during the 16th century, a period marked by religious and political upheaval. The image presents the Holy Family within an ornate, classicizing architectural frame, reflecting the period’s fascination with classical antiquity. Figures of putti and a grotesque mask adorn the top, merging religious and secular motifs. Note how the artist uses a biblical scene to comment on the contemporary ideals of family and social order. The careful engraving suggests a culture of refinement and artistic patronage. This image serves as a document reflecting the values of its time. Art historians consult a wide range of sources—letters, inventories, and religious texts—to uncover how art served as a mirror, and sometimes a challenge, to its own society.