Artwork
The Flight into Egypt
The Flight into Egypt is an oil painting by the Early Baroque Italian artist Francisco Antolínez. It dates from 1675 and is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado.
About this work
Overview
Francisco Antolínez’s *The Flight into Egypt* (1675) is an oil painting that portrays the biblical episode of the Holy Family’s escape to Egypt. Executed in the early Baroque period, the work is part of the Prado Museum’s collection in Madrid and measures the dramatic moment with a compact, narrative composition.
Subject & Meaning
The canvas presents a woman—identified as the Virgin Mary—seated on a donkey and cradling the infant Jesus. An angel appears to the left, gesturing forward, while a male figure walks beside the donkey, suggesting protective assistance. The scene conveys urgency and divine guidance as the family flees persecution.
Technique & Style
Antolínez employs chiaroscuro, juxtaposing illuminated figures against a darker, wooded landscape and cloudy sky to create depth and tension. The colour scheme and soft modelling echo the influence of his master, Bartolomé Esteban Murillo, while the handling of light underscores the emotional stakes of the narrative.
History & Provenance
Born in Seville in 1645, Antolínez studied under Murillo before moving to Madrid in 1672, where he briefly pursued legal studies before returning to painting. *The Flight into Egypt* entered the Museo del Prado’s holdings, where it remains on display as a representative example of his mature work.
Context
The painting belongs to a broader Baroque tradition of biblical storytelling, where artists emphasized dramatic lighting and expressive gestures to engage viewers. Antolínez’s choice of this subject aligns with Counter‑Reformation interests in highlighting the Holy Family’s vulnerability and divine protection.
Artist & collection
Artist
Francisco Antolínez de Sarabia (1645–1700) was a historical and landscape painter who studied in the school of Murillo, whose style and manner of colouring he followed.
