Mary Cleophas and her Family

JPG • 2050 × 3400 PX • 4.2 MB
Curatorial Notes

This panel depicts Mary Cleophas, traditionally identified as a sister or cousin of the Virgin Mary, surrounded by her husband Alphaeus and their children. As part of the Holy Kinship iconography, the painting portrays the extended family of Christ in a domestic setting. Mary Cleophas sits centrally, grooming one of her sons, while Alphaeus stands behind holding an infant. In the foreground, two other children are visible; one holds a saw, the traditional attribute of Saint Simon, and a writing tablet. The composition features a prominent marble column and a stone interior, characteristic of the Nuremberg school's transition from Gothic to Renaissance styles, emphasizing the human and familial aspects of sacred figures through detailed gestures and expressions.

Artwork Identification

Title Mary Cleophas and her Family
Title (PT) Maria de Cleofas e sua Família
Title (ES) María de Cleofás y su Familia
Artist Hans Süss von Kulmbach
Artist Bio Hans Süss von Kulmbach was a German painter and printmaker active in Nuremberg. He was a prominent pupil of Albrecht Dürer and specialized in altarpieces and stained glass designs. His style bridges the late Gothic tradition with the emerging Renaissance influences of the early 16th century.
Date 1513
Work Type Painting

Location & Collection

License Creative Commons Public Domain Mark 1.0
Ars Sancta