Artwork
Flight into Egypt
Flight into Egypt is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Christian Wilhelm Ernst Dietrich. It dates from 1752 and is held in the collection of the Hermitage Museum.
About this work
Overview
Flight into Egypt is a 1752 oil painting by Christian Wilhelm Ernst Dietrich, a German artist known for emulating the styles of his predecessors.
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts the biblical scene of the Holy Family's journey into Egypt, showing Mary with the Christ child, accompanied by Joseph, in a nocturnal landscape.
Technique & Style
The work exemplifies the Rococo style through its use of chiaroscuro, a technique that creates a dramatic contrast between light and dark, achieved here through the torch held by Joseph, illuminating the surrounding darkness.
History & Provenance
The painting is part of the State Hermitage Museum's collection, created during Dietrich's active period as a painter and art administrator.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Christian Wilhelm Ernst Dietrich
Christian Wilhelm Ernst Dietrich (30 October 1712 – 23 April 1774) was a German painter and art administrator. In his own works, he was adept at imitating many earlier artists, but never developed a style of his own.
