Holy Family on the Steps
Claudine Bouzonnet Stella French
After Nicolas Poussin French
Poussin painted over thirty renditions of the Holy Family, making it his most frequent subject. Bouzonnet Stella translated Poussin’s noblest treatment of the theme in this print based on her uncle Jacques Stella’s painted copy. The enthroned figures sit slightly above eye level upon a staircase that symbolizes the connection between heaven and earth. Mary and the infant Jesus crown a pyramidal arrangement flanked on the left by Saint Elizabeth and John the Baptist; in their shadow at right, Saint Joseph intently inscribes a tablet with his compass, signifying God’s creation of the world. Mediated by her uncle’s copy, Bouzonnet Stella used astutely hatched transitions of light and dark to complement this geometric composition.
This artwork is meant to be viewed from right to left. Scroll left to view more.