Who painted The Holy Family on the Flight into Egypt at a Fountain?

The Holy Family on the Flight into Egypt at a Fountain was painted by Albrecht Altdorfer in 1520.

Where can I see The Holy Family on the Flight into Egypt at a Fountain?

The Holy Family on the Flight into Egypt at a Fountain is held by Cleveland Museum of Art.

What movement is The Holy Family on the Flight into Egypt at a Fountain?

The Holy Family on the Flight into Egypt at a Fountain is associated with Renaissance.

Artwork

The Holy Family on the Flight into Egypt at a Fountain

Albrecht Altdorfer , 1520

The Holy Family on the Flight into Egypt at a Fountain is a print by the Renaissance artist Albrecht Altdorfer. It dates from 1520 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

Created circa 1520, Albrecht Altdorfer’s print *The Holy Family on the Flight into Egypt at a Fountain* presents the biblical journey of Mary, Joseph, and the infant Jesus within a richly detailed woodland setting. The composition centers on a family crossing a shallow stream beneath an arched bridge, while a fountain pours water into a pool surrounded by playful figures and a solitary column.

Subject & Meaning

The work visualizes the Flight into Egypt, a narrative of refuge and divine protection, juxtaposing the sacred travelers with ordinary activities observed in the surrounding landscape. By integrating everyday gestures—children at play, a donkey in motion—the image underscores the coexistence of holy purpose and mundane life, inviting contemplation of the holy family's humble passage.

Technique & Style

Altdorfer employs the fine line work characteristic of early 16th‑century German prints, rendering intricate foliage, water, and architectural elements with meticulous precision. The composition reflects the Danube School’s emphasis on atmospheric depth and vivid coloration, even within the monochrome medium, creating a sense of space that balances narrative focus with expansive natural surroundings.

History & Provenance

Executed during Altdorfer’s productive period in Regensburg, the print aligns with his broader output of religious subjects and landscape studies. It entered the Cleveland Museum of Art’s collection in the 20th century, where it remains part of the museum’s holdings of German Renaissance graphic works.

Context

Altdorfer’s career straddled painting and printmaking, and his prints often echo the intimate scale of the Nuremberg Little Masters. The piece exemplifies the Renaissance trend of embedding biblical stories within realistic, locally recognizable environments, thereby bridging devotional content with the viewer’s everyday experience of nature and architecture.

Artist & collection

Artist

Albrecht Altdorfer

Albrecht Altdorfer (c. 1480 – 12 February 1538) was a German painter, engraver and architect of the Renaissance working in Regensburg. Along with Lucas Cranach the Elder and Wolf Huber he is regarded to be the main…