“The Holy Family with Saint Mary Magdalen” is a religious painting attributed to the Italian artist Andrea Mantegna, created approximately between the years 1495 and 1500. This artwork, realized in tempera on canvas, is associated with the High Renaissance art movement. Presently, it is housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art (Met) in New York City, NY, United States.
The artwork depicts a somber and intimate composition with the Madonna holding the Christ Child, who is centrally positioned and gazing outward. The Madonna is adorned in a vibrant yellow headscarf, with her serene and pensive expression evoking a sense of holiness and maternal tenderness. Joseph, on the left, and Saint Mary Magdalen, on the right, frame the scene. The figures are set against a backdrop of rich, dark foliage with scattered fruit, adding depth and contrast to the composition. The halos surrounding the heads emphasize the sanctity of the subjects. Mantegna’s meticulous attention to detail, use of color, and shading are evident, characteristics typical of the High Renaissance period. This work exemplifies Mantegna’s skill in conveying both the human and divine presence through his art.
