The Holy Family in the House of the Robber

Label

These two high-relief plaques were both designed by the Italian sculptor Francesco Fanelli, who spent much of his career working for the English aristocracy. The malleability of the bronzes offers an immediacy to the scenes from Christ’s childhood and death. Rarely depicted, the scene of the Holy Family in the house of the robbers was not an official biblical narrative. While fleeing to Egypt, the Holy Family were threatened by robbers, who upon seeing the infant Jesus immediately repented. The image of Christ laboring to carry the cross to his crucifixion, meanwhile, was a popular scene that prompted reflection on his sacrifice. These two reliefs are often found in pairs, even set in matching frames, despite the unusual linking of narratives. Both reliefs, however, suggest the power of Christ to instill faith in his followers.

From the 2024 exhibition Living with Sculpture: Presence and Power in Europe, 1400–1750, curated by Elizabeth Rice Mattison, Andrew W. Mellon Curator of Academic Programming and Curator of European Art, and Ashley Offill, Curator of Collections

Course History

History 42.01, Women's Gender, and Sexuality Studies 22.01, Gender & European Society, Patrick Meehan, Spring 2024

History 96.39, Saints and Relics, Cecilia Gaposchkin, Spring 2024

Italian 1.01, Introductory Italian I, Noemi Perego, Spring 2024

Italian 11.01, Intensive Italian, Floriana Ciniglia, Spring 2024

Italian 2.01, Introductory Italian II, Floriana Ciniglia, Spring 2024

Italian 3.01, Introductory Italian III, Tania Convertini, Spring 2024

Italian 3.02, Introductory Italian III, Giorgio Alberti, Spring 2024

Exhibition History

European Bronzes from the Collection of Roger Arvid Anderson, Class of 1968, Gene Y. Kim, Class of 1985, Gallery, Hood Museum of Art, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire, January 19, 1996-June 22, 1997, no. 35.

Living with Sculpture: Presence and Power in Europe, 1400–1750, Citrin Family Gallery and Engles Family Gallery, Hood Museum of Art, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire, March 23, 2024–March 22, 2025.

Publication History

Roger Arvid Anderson, The Roger Arvid Anderson Collection, Medals, Medallions, Plaquettes and Small Reliefs, Paintings, Sculpture, Works on Paper and Textiles, San Francisco: Roger Arvid Anderson (published privately), design by David L. Wilson, 2015, p. 172.

Provenance

Acquired by Roger Arvid Anderson, San Francisco, California, date unknown; lent to present collection, 1994; given to present collection, 2016.

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