The Holy Kinship 1509

Lucas Cranach the Elder painted this image of The Holy Kinship in Germany in the early Sixteenth century. Here we see a domestic scene from the life of the Virgin Mary. She is surrounded by family members who, in turn, embody the communal values of the time. But this image also speaks to emerging theological debates. It reflects the Protestant reformation and the attack on traditional Catholic beliefs around the veneration of saints and relics. Cranach was a close friend of Martin Luther, and this painting subtly reinforces the reformer’s emphasis on the nuclear family, rather than the extended ‘holy family’ promoted by the Catholic church. The work also downplays the miraculous aspects of Christ’s life, favoring instead an image of piety rooted in everyday life. Art historians rely on both textual sources and close looking to reveal the social function of images like this. By understanding the context of its production, we can better appreciate its original meaning and purpose.