The Holy Family with the infant John the Baptist

Luca Cambiaso developed the theme of the Holy Family in a domestic context in many different variations. This sheet with the charming representation of the infant Jesus taking his first steps can be compared with drawings of similar subject in the Frits Lugt Collection, Paris (inv. 5066; see J. Byam Shaw, The Italian Drawings of The Frits Lugt Collection, Paris, 1983, I, no. 410, II, pl. 464), in the Santa Barbara Museum of Art (inv. 1964.13), and with the fine example from Chatsworth, The Holy Family in the carpenter shop, Christie's, London, Old Master Drawings from Chatsworth, 3 July 1994, lot 4.