Bernardino Luini “The Holy Family with Saint Anne and Saint John” at the Pinacoteca Ambrosiana in Milan

Bernardino Luini (1475-1480 — June 1532) “Holy Family with Saint John, Anne and Joseph”

Painting - Tempera and Oil on Wood (118 x 92 cm) 1515-1520

Bernardino Luini, The Holy Family with Saint Anne and Saint John, at the Pinacoteca Ambrosiana in Milan

The Holy Family Cardinal Borromeo, who owned this work, indicated that Luini was inspired by a drawing by Leonardo da Vinci on display at the National Gallery in London.

It seems that Bernardino Luini traced a layer of this drawing.

However, it is not a simple reproduction since by introducing Saint Joseph into his composition, Luini balanced his painting differently from Vinci's drawing.

This choice corresponded to the gradual rehabilitation of Saint Joseph at that time.

Recall that in the 13th century, the famous “Golden Legend” did not devote any chapter to Saint Joseph, who was nevertheless an essential figure in the Gospel.

The Holy Family It was not until Pope Sixtus IV that the name of Joseph appeared in the Roman calendar in 1479, then the Council of Trent, that the image of Saint Joseph finally regained its place in the Holy Family.

Returning to the overall analysis of the picture, it should be noted that the Virgin Mary is the central figure, in accordance with most representations of the Holy Family.

Of course, Jesus is positioned precisely in the centre of the picture as he turns and blesses Saint John the Baptist, but while standing on Mary's lap, he holds him in her arms; it is with her and through her that Jesus blesses.

The presence of Saint Anne, the Mother of the Virgin, corresponds to the “Saint Anne the Trinity” representation.

The Holy Family This link is highlighted in the painting with Saint Anne looking at Mary looking at Jesus.

As in all Luini's paintings, these characters seem alive and natural, thanks to soft colours, fair tones, shadows and lights that shape the skin of bodies and faces.

The expressions are just as careful; the Virgin accompanies the movements of Jesus by following him tenderly with her eyes, while Saint Joseph looks at his son, who blesses Saint John the Baptist while holding his chin in an almost fatherly manner.

Anne, Jesus' grandmother, looks at Mary smiling and takes heaven as a witness by raising her index finger.

The Holy Family