The Virgin and Child in the Company of little St. John and his Parents
c. 1650-1655 Museum of Fine Arts, Ghent
About this artwork
This oil painting by Jacob Jordaens depicts the Holy Family, with the Virgin Mary holding the infant Christ, accompanied by Saint Elizabeth and the infant Saint John the Baptist, along with Saint Zechariah. The scene centers on the interaction between the two babies, observed by the adults.
Did you know?
The presence of the birdcage and the small bird flying free adds a symbolic layer to this tender family scene. In Christian iconography, a bird escaping a cage can represent the liberation of the soul or freedom from sin through Christ, offering a deeper theological meaning to the children's innocent interaction.
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The Virgin and Child in the Company of little St. John and his Parents
Jacob Jordaens, c. 1650-1655
