The Holy Family with the Infant St. John the Baptist (c.1600) Caravaggio. The attribution to Caravaggio is not universally agreed upon by Caravaggio scholars. However, The Met attributes it to Caravaggio and I’m not in a position to argue. It is disappointing that there is very little written about the piece on the Met’s website other than the thought that the painting was shipped to France soon after completion and that is why it is not mentioned by Caravaggio’s early biographers.

In any case, it is a beautiful painting with a very young Virgin Mary looking at us with the weight of the world on her shoulders. Baby Jesus’ posture shows his deep love for his mother while old man Joseph is protectively surrounding them both. It is also not universally accepted that Baby John the Baptist looks to be reaching for Jesus and Joseph is moving his hand away so that Jesus doesn’t fall, but I think that is what is happening.