Also known as The Carpenter’s
Shop this was painted in 1849/50 When this work
was first exhibited in 1850, the public found it somewhat offensive, and it was
subject to a virulent attack by Charles Dickens, who called it mean, revolting,
and repusive. Showing the holy family as ordinary people in a carpenter’s
workshop was thought to be disrespectful, in a way we find difficult to imagine
today. Queen Victoria was interested enough to demand a private viewing, and the
young painter remarked (privately), that he hoped the experience had not proved
too corrupting. The model for the head of Joseph was, yet again, Millais senior,
though a carpenter was hired, so the muscular development of the arms would be
accurate. The virgin was modelled by the same young woman as Isabella in his
earlier painting. The child Jesus bloody hand is an omen of his ultimate
crucifiction. The picture has many symbolic features which are no longer
familiar to us today.
Buy
print on canvas from Illusions Gallery
Buy
print from Easyart (UK)
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