The Holy Family with the Virgin holding Christ over the cradle 1640 - 1660

Giulio Carpioni rendered *The Holy Family with the Virgin holding Christ over the cradle* as an etching sometime between 1613 and 1678. The scene overflows with Christian iconography. At center, the Virgin Mary cradles the infant Christ, while God the Father and a host of angels peer down from the heavens. Note the specific gesture of God’s hand—a symbol of benediction, seen across cultures and epochs, from ancient Roman orators to Byzantine emperors. The gesture transcends mere blessing, tapping into a deep-seated human desire for divine favor. Consider how the cherubic angels, borrowed from pagan Eros figures, evolved into symbols of divine love, reflecting our innate yearning for connection. This echoes in the tender embrace between Mary and Jesus, a universal expression of maternal love that resonates regardless of religious belief. It shows how symbols are not static; they morph, adapt, and reflect the ever-changing tapestry of human experience and belief.