Artwork
The Rest on the Flight into Egypt, or The Miracle of the Palm Tree
The Rest on the Flight into Egypt, or The Miracle of the Palm Tree is a chalk drawing by the Baroque artist Simone Cantarini. It dates from 1634 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created circa 1634, this red‑chalk drawing on laid paper portrays the Holy Family pausing during their escape to Egypt, a moment traditionally linked to the miracle in which a palm tree provides food. The composition is framed by incised lines along its edges, a technique that helps preserve the transfer grid used by the artist.
Subject & Meaning
The image combines two biblical motifs: the restful interlude of Mary, Joseph, and the infant Jesus on their journey, and the legendary palm tree that miraculously bears fruit to sustain them. By uniting these elements, the work underscores divine providence and the protective care afforded to the Holy Family.
Technique & Style
Executed in red chalk, the drawing employs a squared transfer method, allowing the artist to reproduce a preparatory design with precision. Incised markings around the perimeter define the paper’s limits. The handling of line and shading reflects the Baroque interest in dramatic contrast and naturalistic detail, hallmarks of Cantarini’s practice.
History & Provenance
The drawing is attributed to Simone Cantarini, also known as il Pesarese, a Bolognese painter and etcher active in the early seventeenth century. While the work’s early ownership remains undocumented, it has been catalogued among Cantarini’s surviving drawings and is now held in a public collection.
Context
Cantarini worked within the currents of Bolognese classicism, yet he incorporated a bold naturalism that set his religious scenes apart. This drawing exemplifies his approach to narrative composition, merging classical compositional order with the emotive immediacy characteristic of the Baroque period.
Artist & collection
Artist
Simone Cantarini or Simone da Pesaro, called il Pesarese (Baptized on 21 August 1612 – 15 October 1648) was an Italian painter and etcher.
The Rest on the Flight into Egypt
The Rest on the Flight into Egypt
The Rest on the Flight into Egypt
The Rest on the Flight into Egypt
The Rest on the Flight into Egypt
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