St Joseph's Foot Deformity in Italian Renaissance Art

Abstract

The depiction of St Joseph with a foot deformity is rare in Italian Renaissance art. During the period 1475-1525, however, it appears in paintings by Francesco di Giorgio Martini, Raphael Sanzio, and Giulio Romano. Given the intensification of the cult of St Joseph in Italy during this half century, and the similar representation of his deformity in all three paintings, it is likely that this iconographic feature had some meaning for Renaissance viewers. The key to this meaning is found in the emphasis which St Joseph's cult placed on the hardships of his many travels, particularly the long journey from Nazareth to Egypt and back.