Holy Family with Saint John

Michele delle Colombe 1575

With a green curtain behind them (appearing to be a domestic setting), the Madonna in the centre holds the Child Jesus in her arms as he reaches out towards St. John holding a cross traditionally made of reeds. However, St. Joseph watches the scene in the background, addressing the observer. The figures, with their warm, bright colours, are formally inspired by Andrea del Sarto's most famous models. The painting, which displays adhesion to Reformation painting in the balanced character of the poses together with a direct knowledge of mannerist colour tones, has been attributed to the painter Michele delle Colombe.

Technical information

Author: Michele delle Colombe
Title: Holy Family with Saint John
Date: 1575
Material and technique: Oil on panel
Size: 94x70 cm
Location: Palazzo Pretorio Museum
First Floor

The known production of the artist, who left almost all his artworks in Prato even though he was Florentine, is in fact characterised by a pleasant, easily comprehensible painting inspired by Andrea Del Sarto, Pontormo, Bronzino, Allori and Santi di Tito. Among the painter's certain artworks in Prato are the Ritratto di Pierfrancesco Ricci (Portrait of Pierfrancesco Ricci) for the Cathedral sacristy (1573), the Natività (Nativity, 1575-1577) and the Visitazione (Visitation) for the Church of Santa Maria delle Carceri, the Nativity in the Church of San Vincenzo and the large altarpieces with the Assunzione e Scene della passione (Assumption and Scenes from the Passion, 1576) in the same monastery Other artworks attributed to him are found in the parish churches of Iolo and San Giusto in Piazzanese.