The Holy Family with Little St. John the Baptist and St. Catherine of Alexandria

The Virgin Mary casts her view to the left while pivoting her waist to the right. Her legs, rendered as a gigantic mass of color, are similarly counterpoised. She stretches her arms to reach the infant Christ, but her large hands do not carry her son so much as courteously acknowledge him. Indeed, the Jesus of Nosadella’s painting resembles a powerful king more than any newborn.

Il Nosadella executed this painting in 1550 ca. when he was still in his twenties. He was already a fully formed artist who painted imposing figures in stately poses inspired by Michelangelo and his followers. Due to these factors, the work was formerly attributed to Pellegrino Tibaldi (Puria di Valsolda, 1527 - Milan, 1596).