The Holy Family with Saint Mary Magdalen

The composition of this late picture by Mantegna was inspired by Roman funerary reliefs, which accounts for the combination of austerity and sweetness. It is painted in distemper rather than oil, allowing the artist to give strong definition to the forms. Originally, the colors would have had a freshness and clarity. However, the picture has suffered from past cleanings and its surface has been varnished, compromising the intended effect. Mantegna painted for the elite Gonzaga court in Mantua, where the antiquarian culture informing this picture would have been appreciated. (Source: The Metropolitan Museum of Art)