Artwork
Rest on the Flight into Egypt
Rest on the Flight into Egypt is an oil painting by the Northern Renaissance artist Bernard Van Orley. It dates from 1522 and is held in the collection of the Art Gallery of Ontario.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1522, this oil painting by Bernard van Orley captures a moment from the biblical Flight into Egypt. The composition centers on a woman in a red garment seated on the ground, cradling an infant in a white robe, set against a gently rolling landscape of trees, hills and a distant stream under a clear sky.
Subject & Meaning
The work illustrates the Holy Family’s brief pause during their escape to Egypt, emphasizing tenderness and protection. The mother’s attentive gaze and the child’s reaching gesture convey intimacy, while the surrounding natural elements suggest divine providence guiding the journey.
Technique & Style
Van Orley employs the meticulous detail typical of early 16th‑century Flemish oil painting, rendering textures of fabric, foliage and stone with precise brushwork. The composition balances a naturalistic landscape with a harmonious color palette, reflecting the influence of Italian Renaissance models, especially Raphael, filtered through the artist’s Northern sensibility.
History & Provenance
Bernard van Orley, a leading Brussels painter of the Northern Renaissance, produced this piece without traveling to Italy, yet his Romanist circle informed its stylistic choices. The painting entered the collection of the Art Gallery of Ontario, where it remains part of the museum’s holdings of early Netherlandish art.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Bernard van Orley (between 1487 and 1491 – 6 January 1541), also called Barend or Barent van Orley, Bernaert van Orley or Barend van Brussel, was a versatile Flemish artist and representative of Dutch and Flemish…
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