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The Holy Family with the Young Saint John the Baptist

ca. 1528
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 609
Andrea del Sarto was known as a meticulous draftsman. He displays this talent in the carefully choreographed gestures of these four figures, whose hands spiral around the globe that the young Saint John the Baptist passes to the Christ Child. This action is central to the meaning of the painting, which was as much a political statement as a religious one. Giovanni Borgherini commissioned the picture at a time when Florence had freed itself of Medici dominance and declared itself a republic. The young John the Baptist—patron saint of Florence—passes the orb to Christ, indicating him, not the Medici, as sole ruler of the city.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: The Holy Family with the Young Saint John the Baptist
  • Artist: Andrea del Sarto (Andrea d'Agnolo) (Italian, Florence 1486–1530 Florence)
  • Date: ca. 1528
  • Medium: Oil on wood
  • Dimensions: 53 1/2 x 39 5/8 in. (135.9 x 100.6 cm)
  • Classification: Paintings
  • Credit Line: Maria DeWitt Jesup Fund, 1922
  • Object Number: 22.75
  • Curatorial Department: European Paintings

Audio

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5076. The Holy Family with the Young Saint John the Baptist

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More Artwork

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The Birth of Saint John the Baptist, Andrea del Sarto (Andrea d'Agnolo) Italian, Pen and brown ink, brush and brown wash, highlighted with Chinese white of brown paper
The Birth of Saint John the Baptist
Andrea del Sarto (Andrea d'Agnolo)
16th century
Studies of Hands, Andrea del Sarto (Andrea d'Agnolo) Italian, Red chalk. Lined
Studies of Hands
Andrea del Sarto (Andrea d'Agnolo)
ca. 1517
Studies of a Head and a Hand, Andrea del Sarto (Andrea d'Agnolo) Italian, Red chalk
Studies of a Head and a Hand
Andrea del Sarto (Andrea d'Agnolo)
1510
Woman and Child Kneeling (recto); Head of Child (verso), Andrea del Sarto (Andrea d'Agnolo) Italian, Pen and brown ink (recto and verso)
Woman and Child Kneeling (recto); Head of Child (verso)
Andrea del Sarto (Andrea d'Agnolo)
16th century

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