Poussin more than once turned to subjects related to the Holy Family. In the three paintings that you see in front of you, besides the traditional figures of the Madonna, the Infant Jesus and Joseph, there are figures of Sts. Anna and John the Baptist. Scenes from the life of the Holy Family gained especial popularity among artists in the XV century, but Poussin managed to innovatively approach this plot.
The vertical format, which is usual for paintings of this kind, it replaces with the horizontal one – and at the same time achieves an unusual effect. In the horizontal format, his canvases “The Holy Family with Six Angels” and “The Holy Family on the Steps”, 1648, were used.
Related Paintings 
La Sainte Famille aux six anges – Nicolas Poussin 
Holy Family by Giorgione 
Holy Family by Jacob Jordaens 
Holy Family with a Bird by Bartolome Esteban Murillo 
The Holy Family with the Little John the Baptist (Madonna Stroganova) by Agnolo Bronzino 
Holy Family with Saint Anne by El Greco 
The Holy Family by Francesco Franche 
Repentance by Nicolas Poussin
La Sainte Famille aux six anges – Nicolas Poussin Holy Family by Giorgione Holy Family by Jacob Jordaens Holy Family with a Bird by Bartolome Esteban Murillo The Holy Family with the Little John the Baptist (Madonna Stroganova) by Agnolo Bronzino Holy Family with Saint Anne by El Greco The Holy Family by Francesco Franche Repentance by Nicolas Poussin