called holy family finished panel painting mature survive florence italy original frame painting probably commissioned commemorate marriage daughter powerful family painting form round frame frequently associated renaissance domestic ideas work likely created period marriage excavation ceiling begun dating painting approximately late features christian holy family child jesus mary john baptist foreground contains ambiguous nude male figures background inclusion nude figures interpreted variety ways description virgin mary prominent figure composition taking center image mary sits directly ground ground better communicate theme relationship earth grass directly figure green sharply contrasts ground surrounding green darker visible originally higher position image compared mary head family unusual feature compositions mary located legs protecting debate mary receiving christ child joseph vice versa baptist patron saint florence commonly included works depicting madonna child middle ground painting holy family background elements family include plants water painting original frame influenced helped design frame carved unusual heads contains space similar background meanings heads subject speculation frame contains carvings crescent stars vegetation lions heads symbols references families taken coat arms depicted frame bound lions possibly referencing marriage families horizontal band separating foreground background function separate holy family background figures baptist background figures meaning function subject speculation debate holy family larger size background appears water land holy family situated holy family gaze christ look directly far background contains landscape technique believed existing panel picture painted aid assistants unlike manchester madonna london questioned bright colors use color later ceiling sharply modeled skin figures smooth looks medium marble surface treatment massive figures resembles sculpture painting nude figures background softer modeling look male nude figures ceiling technique includes intense colors lighter shades darker colors shadows technique called applying pigment certain way created effect background focused detail foreground vibrant color located virgin signifying importance image rays painting incorporated known pigment time mary explained use male models female figures chapel limited palette comprising lead white avoided little influences composition likely partially influenced cartoon term referring dimensional preliminary drawing virgin child anne like earlier cartoon figures little space similar symmetrical triangular composition employed saw drawing florence working david associated madonna probably knew work ideas wanted incorporate ideas work madonna similarly uses form depicts nude male figures background displays virgin sitting directly earth aspects painting attributed antique cameo 15th century relief circle available circular form mary positioning christ child virgin right arm mirrors arm cameo cameo depicts infant located shoulders position similar christ child mary shoulders additionally scholars suggest inspired famous group sons excavated seen body positioning muscular nude figures background resemble twisting figures captured furthermore inclusion protruding heads paintings frame seen referencing similar motif found del bronze doors florence known greatly admire plant symbolism plant john baptist aspects likely grows wall attribute christ heaven christ baptism tree background represents cedar lebanon uses tree visual representation quote cedar lebanon grows wall explanation christ father humanity derives virgin mary foreground represents trinity salvation plant represents trinity passion christ scholarly theories multitude interpretations parts work interpretations differ defining relationship figures background argues image example style symbolism bases thesis language work lives excellent italian painters architects times support idea devotion comes christ presented painting like gift links painting patron perceived pun italian word gift patron christ gift metaphor holding christ painting seen reference host mass argues image reflects views roles members human salvation soul virgin placement emphasis role human salvation mother christ best appealing strongly influenced florence picture defend point view philosophy dominican order rejecting idea conception mary view virgin receive birth moment incarnation christ image depicts moment showing christ child blessing depicts christ growing shoulder human form leg hanging visible making mary muscles balance convey upward movement growing mary asserting superiority furthermore argues interpreted removed clothes baptism water separates holy family horizontal band middle painting seen waters separation mentioned bible argues figures represent parts soul higher soul soul intellect left lower soul imagination sensation faculty right visual depiction views references works additionally looking separate suggest figures right represents human divine christ left represent trinity argues commissioning family helped emphasize secular domestic ideals painting seeing object choosing format picture referencing form long association depicting madonna child finds allusions work referencing madonna daughter law makes joseph embodiment supports acknowledging direct link joseph depicted paintings link gives explanation background forms inspired sons allusion story brings themes water giving rise interpretation similar awaiting baptism john baptist isolation pit like space indicates special role states painting depicts importance family related hoped descendants ways painting depicts good marriage seemingly action handling jesus joseph mary importance given joseph way colors clothes yellow indicating divine aspect family truth purple standing royal lineage tracing additionally joseph important painting referencing middle child lived infancy themes baptism referenced influence del paintings frame located doors reference rite baptism important desire child product good marriage holy family reasoning commissioning work
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