Who painted Rest on the Flight into Egypt?

Rest on the Flight into Egypt was painted by Cornelius van Poelenburgh in 1646.

Where can I see Rest on the Flight into Egypt?

Rest on the Flight into Egypt is held by Museum of Fine Arts Boston.

What movement is Rest on the Flight into Egypt?

Rest on the Flight into Egypt is associated with Dutch Golden Age.

Artwork

Rest on the Flight into Egypt

Cornelius van Poelenburgh , 1646

Rest on the Flight into Egypt is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Cornelius van Poelenburgh. It dates from 1646 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts Boston.

About this work

Overview

Cornelius van Poelenburgh’s *Rest on the Flight into Egypt* (1646) is a modestly sized oil painting that places a biblical episode within an idealised Italian countryside. Executed during the Dutch Golden Age, the work reflects the artist’s habit of merging narrative content with a tranquil, sun‑lit landscape, and it now belongs to the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.

Subject & Meaning

The composition portrays the Holy Family pausing during their escape to Egypt. A woman cradles an infant while a man sits beside her, both dressed in simple robes. They are positioned before a weathered stone arch, suggesting a moment of respite amid a journey, and the surrounding calm landscape reinforces a sense of divine protection and peace.

Technique & Style

Poelenburgh employs a soft chiaroscuro that models the figures against the luminous sky, while the landscape is rendered with delicate, almost lyrical brushwork. The palette is dominated by warm earth tones and cool blues, creating a balanced contrast between the foreground figures and the distant hills, a hallmark of his Italianate approach.

History & Provenance

Created while Poelenburgh was active in Rome, the painting reflects his exposure to Italian scenery and classical architecture. After remaining in private hands for centuries, it entered the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, where it is displayed as part of the institution’s Dutch Golden Age holdings.