El Greco painted several versions of the Holy Family during the 1580’s and 1590’s. This particular painting is distinguished by its luminous, clear and light colours. It contains all the basic elements of the theme: a Virgin Mary of aristocratic and youthful appearance positioned to fit in with the composition’s triangular structure. The cloud-filled sky emphasises the central figure of the Virgin like a halo. El Greco has given St. Joseph a more prominent position than in his other treatments of the same subject, where he is left in the background. The artist originally did not plan to include St. Anne in the painting, but by adding her to the left he lent the entire composition a balance which did not exist before. Here, as in many of his works, El Greco does not define the space. We are left in the dark as to where the figures are. There is nothing to suggest earthly surroundings. Instead the sole element of the background is the sky.