Holy Family on the Steps 1668

Claudine Bouzonnet Stella created this print, Holy Family on the Steps, in France in the 17th century. It demonstrates a society that was deeply shaped by religion, and the institutional power of the church. The image depicts the Holy Family—Mary, Jesus, and Joseph—in a classical architectural setting, an attempt to associate the Christian story with the grandeur of ancient Rome, so valorized in French culture at the time. However, this is also a domestic scene, showing the family in a moment of intimate interaction. It is trying to create a connection with the viewer, to bridge the gap between the divine and the everyday, to make religion relatable. To fully understand the intent of an image like this, one must understand its social context and its patrons. Looking into archives, letters, and other historical documents, one might further understand the artist’s own beliefs and intentions, and the market for religious imagery at that time.