Holy Family with Saint Elizabeth and the Infant Saint John c. 1495 - 1505

Giovanni Antonio da Brescia created this engraving of the Holy Family with Saint Elizabeth and the Infant Saint John sometime between 1490 and 1519. It reflects a period when religious imagery was central to social life and public identity in Italy. This print blends religious iconography with the artistic style of the Italian Renaissance. The serene, idealized figures, arranged in a balanced composition, reflect the period's interest in classical forms. The image operates within a well-established visual language. The Holy Family represents the core of Christian belief, while the inclusion of Saint Elizabeth and John adds layers of meaning related to faith, lineage, and destiny. The print was made during a time when the Catholic Church was a dominant cultural and political force, deeply enmeshed with artistic patronage. Prints like these provided accessible and affordable versions of devotional art. To fully understand this engraving, we might research the role of the Church during the Renaissance, the popular religious beliefs of the time, and the history of printmaking as a medium for disseminating ideas.