Where can I see Bronzino's Holy Family?

It hangs at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. It's part of the Samuel H. Kress Collection, acquired in 1939.

Was this painting ever attributed to another artist?

Yes. It was listed as a Pontormo in catalogues until 1985. The confusion arose because Bronzino trained under Pontormo and absorbed his Mannerist style.

What art movement does this represent?

The work is Mannerist (Late Renaissance). Bronzino developed his style under Pontormo before becoming court painter to Cosimo I de' Medici.

Who is the child pointing at the viewer?

The infant Saint John the Baptist looks at the viewer while pointing toward Jesus. This gesture directs attention to Christ's significance as Savior.

Where to See Holy Family by Bronzino

Italian artist Bronzino painted this Holy Family between 1527 and 1528, creating a tightly composed scene of two women, a man, and two children against a dark brown background. The figures all have pale skin with rosy cheeks, and each wears a delicate gold ring as a halo. Jesus sits on a stone at the center while the infant Saint John the Baptist looks directly at the viewer, pointing upward toward Christ.

The oil-on-panel work measures about 101 by 79 centimeters. Bronzino trained under Pontormo and absorbed his master's Mannerist style, though his own work tends toward cooler precision. The painting's attribution history reflects this connection: it was listed as a Pontormo in gallery catalogues as late as 1985 before being firmly attributed to Bronzino.

Bronzino would later become the official court painter to Cosimo I de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany. This early work belongs to the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., as part of the Samuel H. Kress Collection acquired in 1939.

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