Who painted The Rest of the Holy Family during the Flight into Egypt?

The Rest of the Holy Family during the Flight into Egypt was painted by François Boucher in 1744.

Where can I see The Rest of the Holy Family during the Flight into Egypt?

The Rest of the Holy Family during the Flight into Egypt is held by Statens Museum for Kunst.

What movement is The Rest of the Holy Family during the Flight into Egypt?

The Rest of the Holy Family during the Flight into Egypt is associated with Rococo painting.

Artwork

The Rest of the Holy Family during the Flight into Egypt

François Boucher , 1744

The Rest of the Holy Family during the Flight into Egypt is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist François Boucher. It dates from 1744 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.

About this work

Overview

François Boucher’s oil on canvas, dated 1744, depicts a moment from the biblical Flight into Egypt. The work is part of the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst in Copenhagen. It presents a quiet, intimate scene set against a landscape of ruins and foliage, rendered in the artist’s characteristic Rococo softness.

Subject & Meaning

At the centre, a cloaked woman cradles an infant, both kneeling beside a stone fountain. Their posture suggests reverence and protection, echoing the Holy Family’s exile. A peacock, its plumage dramatically unfurled, occupies the background near a broken column, a symbol traditionally linked to immortality and resurrection.

Technique & Style

Boucher employs delicate glazing, layering translucent pigments to achieve a luminous, hazy atmosphere. Soft chiaroscuro models the figures, while the surrounding ruins and trees dissolve into a gentle, almost dreamlike haze. The vivid peacock feathers provide a focal contrast, drawing the eye amid the muted palette.

History & Provenance

Created in the mid‑18th century, the painting entered the Statens Museum for Kunst’s holdings in the early 20th century, where it remains on public display. Its provenance traces back to private French collections before its acquisition by the Danish national museum.

Context

The work reflects the Rococo fascination with pastoral idylls and mythic symbolism, merging religious narrative with decorative elegance. Boucher’s treatment of sacred subjects often softened their gravity, aligning with contemporary tastes for sensuality and decorative charm in aristocratic circles.