Giovanni Battista Pittoni the Elder (1687 Venice - 1767), Saint Joseph with the Baby Jesus

Pittoni received his lessons first from his uncle Francesco Pittoni (active around 1687-around 1718), later from Antonio Balestra (1666-1740), but was also taught by Sebastiano Ricci (1659-1734), Giovanni Battista Piazzetta (1682-1754) and Giovanni Battista Tiepolo (1696-1770), whom he eventually replaced as President of the Venetian Academy. Pittoni is one of the most sought-after painters and draftsmen of the late baroque and rococo periods.
The two figures are shown moving to the left. Joseph in the three-quarter portrait, with his bearded head turned down to the left, holds the baby Jesus in the crook of his left arm, who is also looking in the same direction. The right hand of Joseph bears the attribute of a lily stem. The lighting of the group from the bottom left also indicates that this is a preliminary study for a multi-figure overall representation, with a center that can be assumed to be at the bottom left., Oil on canvas, on wood., 29 x 23 cm