s Holy Family with St. Simeon and St. John the Baptist - Hull Museums Collections

Holy Family with St. Simeon and St. John the Baptist

Santa Croce came from a Bergamese family of painters whose work was influenced by Venetian painting, and especially Giovanni Bellini (c.1430/40-1516). He is also believed to have been a follower of Francesco di Simone (d.1508). Almost all Santa Croce's known works consist of Virgins and saints set against landscape backgrounds. The Ferens' picture is the only work by the artist in a UK public collection. This is an adaptation of a painting by Andrea Mantegna (1431-1506), held at Castle Ashby. Its depiction of the Holy Family is a subject that Rizzo painted numerous times. The Holy Family are depicted on the left with St. Simeon holding St. John The Baptist as an infant on the right. In the New Testament God promised an old Holy Man called Simeon that he would see the Messiah with his own eyes before he died. Led to the temple by the Holy Spirit, Simeon found Mary and Joseph presenting the baby Jesus, as was required by the law. Simeon then held Jesus in his arms and gave thanks to the Lord.