St Joseph in Art History

One way of getting to know more about the life of Saint Jospeh is through depictions of him in works of art throughout the centuries. We will post a new work of art each month. We hope you enjoy. 

Up to about the 17th century Joseph tends to be depicted as a man advanced in years, with grey hair, often balding, occasionally frail, a comparatively marginal figure alongside Mary and Jesus if not entirely in the background, passive other than when leading them on their flight to Egypt. 

In recent centuries – in step with a growing interest in Joseph's role in Gospel exegesis – he himself has become a focal figure in representations of the Holy Family. He is now often portrayed as a younger or even youthful man. Click here to read more and to view a chronology of Saint Jospeh's life in art.

ARTIST
Cuzco School

MEDIUM
Oil on canvas

PLACE MADE
Peru

DATES
late 17th-18th century

COLLECTION
Brooklyn Museum

In the 16th century Christianity spread to the Western Hemisphere and this resulted in the birth of a new Roman Catholic artistic tradition based in Cusco, Peru – the Escuela Cuzquena or Cusco (Cuzco) School. Cusco was the first artistic centre where European painting techniques where taught in the Americas. Jesuits introduced the fashionable art from Spain and Flanders, and Andean artisans made it their own – bringing lush color, elaborate garments and rich adornment common to Incan art.

For the first time, St. Joseph is regularly depicted not as a peripheral character or supportive reflection of Mary, but rather at the centre of the work, with his own rich royal garb in keeping with the Christ child’s regal status surrounded by regional flowers. The bright red sandals worn by the Christ child are the same as those worn by indigenous Inca elites. St. Joseph was a figure with whom new Christian believers could relate and increasingly faithful fathers turned to him for intercession on behalf of their families and marriages. 

Antique 1912 French Devotional Holy Prayer Card

The antique prayer card dates from1912 and features Saint jospeh holding the infant Jesus with St. Joseph's Oratory in the background. To view this and other antique prayer cards click here.

Beginning in the fifteenth century, prayer cards began to play an important role in spreading the Christian faith. The first type of printed prayer cards used the technique of woodcut. With the advent of the printing press images of Mary, Jesus and the Saints  could be sold at a cheap price and could be purchased by humbler families as objects of devotion.

At the beginning of the eighteenth century, prayer cards began to be used to remember the most important moments of a Catholic's life such as Baptism, First  Communion, Confirmation, Marriage and Death. Many publishing houses began dedicating themselves to the exclusive production of prayer cards for these occasions.

Click here to read more about the story and production techniques of prayer cards on HolyBlog.

Below is the etching "Saint Joseph holding the infant Christ" by an anonymous artist. It is based on the painting to the right by Guido Reni - "Saint Jospeh and the Christ Child" (1640), which is part of the collection of The Musueum of Fine Arts, Houston. The Etching  below dates from the 17th century and is part of New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection. 
Guido Reni (1575 - 1642), who painted primarily religious works, was an Italian painter of the Baroque period and the most famous Italian artist of his generation.

This statue of Saint Joseph is located in the center of the sanctuary of the Crypt Church in St. Joseph's Oratory. It was carved from Carrara marble by the Italian artist, A. Giacomini, in 1917. It measures 2.75 m (9 ft) high.

Childhood of Christ (1620)
by Dutch artist
Gerard van Honthorst  (1592–1656)

Oil on canvas
137 cm (53.9 in) x 185 cm (72.8 in)

It is partof the Hermitage Museum 's Collection.

The boy is holding a candle, helping his carpenter father to complete a piece of work late in the evening. Only the title of the piece and the allegory of Christ bringing light to all humanity turn this genre scene into an interpretation of the Gospel words: "I am the light of the world" (John, 8:12).

This month's piece of art featuring St. Joseph is a contemporary piece.
It is entitled 
"Saint Joseph and Child" and was created by Canadian artist
Gisele Bauche
who lives in Saskatoon.

The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops  chose this work as its official image for the
Year of St Joseph.

Learn more about Gisele and see more of her beautiful art at
spiritualityandart.ca

by  Francisco de Zurbarán

The image of Saint Joseph being crowned by Jesus was quite unusual before the Catholic Reformation, especially in Spain. Up until then Saint Joseph had been considered a secondary figure in the holy story.
However, the Catholic Reformation declared the need to emphasize Jesus' role within his family and his devotion to carrying out humble tasks to which the general populace could relate. Consequently Saint Joseph's role was given greater importance, as the father, protector and head of the family who was responsible for taking care of Mary and Jesus. This transformation owed a great deal to Spanish mystics such as Saint Teresa of Avila, a descendent of converted Jews and a great defender of the work ethic. Hence Joseph became a symbol of hard work and the family. This is why Zurbarán depicted this triumphal Saint Joseph in heaven, protected by God and the dove of the holy ghost, with his flowering crook and Jesus awarding him for all his efforts with a crown of flowers that is normally attributed to martyrs.

Francisco de Zurbarán was a Spanish painter. He is known primarily for his religious paintings depicting monks, nuns, and martyrs, and for his still-lifes. 

The Presentation of the Temple (1648)
by  Philippe de Champaigne  (1602–1674)
Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium

On February 2nd, the Church celebrates the feast of the Presentation of the Lord which occurs forty days after the birth of Jesus. It is also known as Candlemas day, since the blessing and procession of candles is included in today's liturgy. We also celebrate the 25th World Day for Consecrated Life.