The Anxiety of Saint Joseph by James Tissot

The Anxiety of Saint Joseph - James Tissot - Canvas Oil Painting

At a Glance

For collectors searching fine art oil painting, The Anxiety of Saint Joseph is a dependable choice. Painted in layered oils on canvas after James Tissot, this elegant work reads equally well as classic canvas wall art and as a thoughtful housewarming gift.

The Story Behind the Painting

1886-1894
Opaque watercolor over graphite on gray wove paper
Brooklyn Museum, United States.

Betrothed but still unmarried, Mary and Joseph do not yet live together, making the news of her unexpected pregnancy a cause of deep concern for Joseph. Ordinarily industrious, as the curled wood shavings around his feet attest, the carpenter hunches over his bench, lost in thought and unable to work. In the hope of catching a glimpse of Mary, he gazes out at the street as women pass carrying jars filled with the day’s water.

Although traditional representations of Joseph show a man of advanced age, Tissot painted him as younger and more robust, arguing in his accompanying commentary that “Rabbinical doctrine” would have regarded the union of an old man and a young girl as a “profanation.” He further asserted that the rigorous demands placed on the Holy Family required a man of vigor.

Every hand painted oil painting in this fine art series is finished on artist-grade canvas and checked against the original before it leaves the studio.

Materials & Craftsmanship

Each canvas is painted entirely by hand with professional oil paints on artist-grade cotton canvas. No printing, giclée, or digital imaging is used at any stage, so the surface keeps the slight relief and color variation of real brushwork.

What Is Included

• 100% hand-painted oil painting on artist-grade canvas — never a print or digital reproduction.
• Supplied with a 2-inch blank border on all four sides for flexible gallery wall display options.
• Direct-from-studio worldwide delivery with no third-party resellers.
• Available canvas sizes for this hand painted oil painting: 20 X 24 in, 24 X 36 in, 30 X 40 in, 36 X 48 in, 48 X 72 in.
• Choose from standard sizes or request a custom dimension to fit your wall.
• Multiple low-cost carriers available, including DHL, UPS, FedEx and USPS.
• Complimentary stretching over wooden stretcher bars; ask us about a custom frame.
• Every order includes a pre-shipment digital preview for your approval.

Styling & Placement

This fine art oil painting wall decor is equally at home in a residence, a boutique hotel, or a professional office. Its elegant character makes it a safe, distinctive gift for anyone furnishing a gallery wall.

Ordering & Peace of Mind

In short: The Anxiety of Saint Joseph - James Tissot - Canvas Oil Painting combines an elegant composition, a 100% hand painted oil painting process, and the flexibility of made-to-order canvas sizes — a dependable choice for fine art oil painting and gallery wall art.