The Holy Family in a Forest

Hans Pruckendorfer was a German painter of the Danube School. He is probably identical with the anonymous painter referred to as Monogrammist HP.

This small panel, monogrammed HP and dated 1514, is a typical example of paintings from the Danube School. The painter’s main interest is in the landscape from the alpine foothills. The romantic character of the picture does not result from the gathering of the Holy Family in the midst of a wooden landscape but it is evoked by the landscape.