Jesus, Mary and Joseph with Bird
Unidentified artist, Peru, c. 1730–1740
Oil on canvas
Jesus sits close to Mary and Joseph in this intimate representation of the Holy Family. Elaborate gold brocade covers their garments, contrasting with the dark background and the Child’s pale...
Jesus sits close to Mary and Joseph in this intimate representation of the Holy Family. Elaborate gold brocade covers their garments, contrasting with the dark background and the Child’s pale tunic. A red thread held by Jesus leads towards the bird in the upper left corner. The painting exemplifies the richly ornamented devotional imagery associated with the Cusco School in the eighteenth century and is dated by the Thoma Foundation to about 1730–1740.