The Holy Family with the Young St John the Baptist and St Catherine of Alexandria

Printer-friendly version

Bonifacio Veronese and workshop
Born Verona, Italy, 1487-1553

The Holy Family with Saints c.1528

Oil on canvas
Bequeathed by James Erskine
Museum Number 15-1945

Bonifacio ran a large workshop in Venice, specialising in devotional paintings. This serene depiction of the Holy Family was an aid to prayer. Joseph watches as the young John the Baptist receives a blessing from the infant Christ. The wheel on the lower right identifies Saint Catherine. Bound to a wheel, she was saved from certain death by a bolt of lightning from God.