The Holy Family 1730 - 1795

This print of the Holy Family was made by Jacques Nicolas Tardieu in France in the eighteenth century. It’s an intimate scene showing the Virgin Mary with the infant Jesus, and Saint Joseph resting his head in his hand. It’s no accident that this image was made during the height of the Enlightenment. While the French monarchy supported the Catholic Church, intellectuals were beginning to question religious authority and promote reason as a guide to life. Notice how the artist places this scene in front of what appears to be an Egyptian pyramid; he’s making a connection between Christianity and the ancient world. The poem beneath the image even seems to hint at the coming sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. Is the artist making a progressive comment about religion or reinforcing conservative values? As historians, we might consult archives and publications from the period to better understand the image’s cultural context, and to understand the way artists could subtly use imagery to comment on social structures and institutions.