Holy Family with St. John the Baptist (recto); Study of a Foot (verso) 17th century

This pen and brown ink drawing depicts the Holy Family with St. John the Baptist. Its origin is currently unknown. We can consider how the image creates meaning through visual codes and cultural references. Depictions of the Holy Family were common in Europe, especially in Italy, from the 14th through 17th centuries. The Catholic Church was a powerful institution, and religious imagery served multiple purposes. On one hand, it reinforced religious doctrine, on the other hand, it also served as propaganda, shaping and manipulating the beliefs of the population. Artists were often commissioned by the Church or wealthy patrons to produce these works, reflecting the social and economic structures of the time. To understand the drawing better, art historians can research the patronage system, religious art, and social history of the time. Art's meaning is contingent on its social and institutional context, and historical research helps us interpret and appreciate it more fully.