The House in Nazareth facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Christ and the Virgin in the House at Nazareth |
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| Year | c. 1630 |
| Dimensions | 165 cm (65 in) × 218.2 cm (85.9 in) |
The House in Nazareth is a famous painting from 1630. It was created by a Spanish artist named Francisco de Zurbarán. Today, you can see this artwork at the Cleveland Museum of Art. Zurbarán painted other versions of this same scene too.
This painting shows Jesus as a child and his mother, the Virgin Mary. It gives us a look into their home life in Nazareth.
Contents
What the Painting Shows
The painting tells a story using many symbols.
Jesus and Mary
- On the left, you see young Jesus. He is making a small crown of thorns.
- One of the thorns has pricked his finger, and he looks a bit sad.
- On the right is the Virgin Mary. She has a vase filled with lilies and roses.
- These flowers often represent her purity.
- Neither Jesus nor Mary have glowing halos around their heads.
- However, you can spot some small angel faces, called cherubs, at the top left. They appear in a bright, heavenly light.
Hidden Meanings and Symbols
Zurbarán used many objects to add deeper meaning to his painting:
- White cloths: The white fabrics around the room show purity. They represent both Jesus and Mary.
- Pigeons: Two pigeons are in the painting. They stand for the human soul.
- Water pot: A pot of water is near Jesus' feet. This hints at baptism, a Christian ceremony.
- Open books: On the table, there are open books. These suggest old prophecies about the Messiah from the Hebrew Bible.
- Pears: You can also see pears on the table. Pears often symbolize love and salvation.
About the Artist's Style
Francisco de Zurbarán was known for his unique painting style.
Simple and Clear Art
- This painting is not overly fancy or dramatic.
- Zurbarán liked to keep his compositions simple.
- He made sure that all the objects and people in his paintings were very clear.
- He was also good at painting still life, which means pictures of objects. This helped him make the items in The House in Nazareth look very real.
Light and Shadow
- Zurbarán used strong contrasts between light and dark. This style is called tenebrism.
- It makes the painting look a bit like a scene on a stage.
- This way of using light was inspired by another famous painter, Caravaggio.
See also
In Spanish: La casa de Nazaret (Zurbarán) para niños
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The House in Nazareth Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.