99 - Spanish school; 19th century.

Spanish school; 19th century. “Holy Family.” Oil on copper. Measurements: 23.5 x 18 cm; 27 x 21 cm (frame). A religious composition depicting the Holy Family, inspired by the work of the same name by Bartolomeo Cavarozzi, painted around 1620 and belonging to the Focus Foundation collection, currently housed at the Museum of Fine Arts in Seville. The work follows the general layout of the Baroque prototype, although it introduces a significant iconographic variation by omitting the infant Saint John. From a stylistic perspective, the painting belongs to the tradition of small-format devotional painting, with echoes of Italian Baroque naturalism evident in the close arrangement of the figures, the emphasis on physicality, and the intimate treatment of the scene. The composition gives special prominence to the sacred figures, fostering a quiet and contemplative viewing experience. The use of copper as a support allows for a smooth pictorial surface, well-suited for defining contours and rendering minute details—characteristics particularly valued in works intended for private devotion during the 18th and 19th centuries.