Spanish or Flemish school: early 17th century.

Spanish or Flemish school: early 17th century.
"Holy Family".
Oil on panel.
It has a frame from the early twentieth century.
Measurements: 59 x 49 cm; 83 x 73 cm (frame).
This oil on panel represents a scene of the Holy Family with a composition full of symbolism and a technical execution typical of the Baroque. The image shows the Virgin Mary holding the Child Jesus, with St. Joseph in the background observing the scene as usual. At the feet of Jesus is Saint John the Baptist.
The representation of the Holy Family was a recurring theme in Flemish Baroque painting, as it combined Catholic devotion with an expressiveness that appealed to the viewer's sensibility. In this case, the scene conveys a sense of serenity and family warmth, where the Virgin holds the Child with tenderness while St. Joseph observes with a contemplative expression.
The Child Jesus appears naked, a frequent iconographic resource in Christian art to emphasize his humanity and purity. His gesture, extending his arm towards his mother, reinforces the maternal bond and adds dynamism to the composition. In Mary's hand, a fruit, possibly an apple, suggests an allusion to original sin and the redemption brought by Christ.
In this work, the handling of light is key to highlight the main figures, creating a contrast with the darker background and reinforcing the dramatism typical of the Baroque. The warm lighting around the faces of the Virgin and Child gives them a subtle halo that emphasizes their holiness. The treatment of the fabrics, the folds in Mary's garment, with richly saturated red and blue tones, demonstrate a great mastery of chiaroscuro and texture. This work is an excellent example of the synthesis between devotion and refined aesthetics that characterized painting in the 17th century. The chromatic richness, the handling of light and the emotionality in the representation of the Holy Family make this painting a piece of great artistic and spiritual value.