Andalusian school from the second half of the seventeenth century. School of BARTOLOMÉ ESTEBAN MURILLO (Seville, 1617 - Cádiz, 1682)."Saint Joseph with the Child".Oil on canvas. Relined. With overpaints. Chips and damages.Measurements: 106 x 81.5 cm.This painting is directly inspired by the canvas currently preserved in the Lázaro Galdiano Museum in Madrid, a work from Murillo's workshop. The work shows St. Joseph, identified by the flowery rod, seated with the Child on his lap, in a family scene full of tenderness typical of the Sevillian master. Until the Counter-Reformation, it was common for the figure of St. Joseph to remain in the background, since he was not given any theological importance. However, after Trent, his protagonist role as Jesus' protector during his childhood, as a guide during his youth, was recovered, and as such he is represented here. In contrast to the tenderness, defenselessness and candor of the infant figure, St. Joseph is presented as a monumental character, typically baroque, an impression that is reinforced by the pyramidal composition. Through this form of representation, the author visually enhances the decisive role as protector of the putative father of Jesus.