ep while the young Christ feeds from his mothers breast. In 1522 with the publication of Isidoro Isolanos Summa de Donis S. Josephi, implied that Joseph was more than just a humble and illiterate carpenter, more as a learned man for a book equals wisdom often theological wisdom. Poussin shows Joseph drawing and Sarto portraits him reading which tells us that Isolano must have been a source for both the painters. In one of Poussins earlier painting he shows Joseph leaning on a measuring rod, which must imply that Joseph was not just learned, but a master of mathematical or architecural science. The still life in the painting is unique, and is set to the left of the Virgins feet. Below Joseph there is a bronze vase and a golden coffer. Though the contents of the vase and coffer are unknown, according to Blunt:...are difficult to identify with certainty, they both appear to be some gum deposit, and may well be frankincense and myrrh. (Hibbard, 59)The contents of these two vessels would recall a previous visitation by the Magi. Poussins painting on this subject supports this; The Adoration of the Magi dated 1633, in which two similar containers appear. The Holy Family on the Steps has no biblical foundation, and as a theme of religious devotion it seems to have been a Renaissance conception of Poussin. Other paintings of this time also have no religious foundation. Such as Sacra Conversazione, which shows Mary and Christ enthroned with various saints gathered on either side as if paying a visit (chronologically impossible).Poussin and ReligionThe Holy Family on the Steps is a very religious picture, but how religious was Nicolas Poussin? While in Paris Poussin associated with freethinkers, medical men, and philosophers. Many of his religious paintings seem to be more than historical, some appear to be devotional acts. The seventeenth century was a time of great religious ferment in many plac...
