A Study of a Holy Family

This picture is of a woman wearing a crown, surrounded by two children, one of whom is holding a cross. It embodies the Victorian ideal of a woman, perhaps representing Queen Victoria with her crown, who was the epitome of domesticity and religiosity. The title is suggestive of the Holy Family of Jesus Christ and his mother, the Virgin Mary, and his foster father Joseph. They are meant to be seen as a superior example for Christian families to follow. Julia Cameron often focused on photographing young women and children, depicting their innocence and soft emotion. The little ones are shown in the attitude of prayer on their mother's knee, implying that religion and piety are to be taught to children by a mother's model.