Artwork
The Rest on the Return from Egypt
The Rest on the Return from Egypt is an ink print by the Renaissance artist Cornelis Cort. It dates from 1575 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Cornelis Cort, a Dutch engraver active in the latter half of the sixteenth century, created the print *The Rest on the Return from Egypt* in 1575. Executed on laid paper, the work is an example of his mature output after a twelve‑year residence in Italy, where he was known as Cornelio Fiammingo.
Subject & Meaning
The composition illustrates a moment from the biblical episode of the Holy Family’s journey back to Nazareth. A seated woman cradles an infant while a bearded man leans toward her, suggesting Joseph’s protective presence. A donkey, tethered to a tree, and a small boy playing near a basket complete the narrative tableau.
Technique & Style
Cort employs a network of fine, intersecting lines to model volume and generate deep shadows, particularly evident in the folds of the woman's garment and the bark of the tree. The engraving’s dense hatching and meticulous detailing of flora, birds, and distant architecture reflect the period’s emphasis on intricate surface rendering.
History & Provenance
Produced during Cort’s final Italian period, the print circulated among collectors of Northern European prints who were attracted to his synthesis of Dutch draughtsmanship and Italian compositional influences. No specific ownership record precedes its appearance in late‑sixteenth‑century inventories.
Context
The work belongs to a broader tradition of devotional prints that visualized episodes from the life of Christ for private contemplation. Cort’s rendition aligns with contemporary religious imagery that emphasized intimate, domestic moments rather than grandiose biblical scenes.
Artist & collection
Artist
Cornelis Cort (c. 1533 – c. 17 March 1578) was a Dutch engraver and draughtsman. He spent the last 12 years of his life in Italy, where he was known as Cornelio Fiammingo.
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
The Rest on the Flight into Egypt
The Rest on the Flight into Egypt
The Rest on the Flight into Egypt
Repose in Egypt
Rest on the Flight into Egypt
The Flight into Egypt
The Holy Family (La Perla) (after Raphael)