Artwork
Rest on the Flight into Egypt
Rest on the Flight into Egypt is an oil painting by the Northern Renaissance artist Gerard David. It dates from 1515 and is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado.
About this work
Overview
Created around 1515, this oil on panel by the Flemish artist Gerard David depicts the Rest on the Flight into Egypt. The work is now part of the Prado Museum’s collection, having entered the museum in 1915 from a Navarre convent. It presents the Virgin Mary nursing the infant Christ, set before an expansive forest landscape that recedes toward a distant village.
Subject & Meaning
The composition draws on the biblical account of the Holy Family’s escape to Egypt, though the specific moment of rest originates from later apocryphal narratives. Central to the scene is the Virgo Lactans motif, emphasizing the nurturing bond between mother and child, while the surrounding landscape alludes to the journey’s hardships and divine protection.
Technique & Style
David employs a delicate chiaroscuro that models Mary’s figure against a softly illuminated backdrop. Meticulous attention to natural detail appears in the rendered foliage, a woven basket, and the varied trees, reflecting the Flemish penchant for realism. The palette balances deep blues and muted earth tones, creating depth and a tranquil atmosphere.
History & Provenance
The painting was initially misattributed to Hieronymus Bosch when it arrived at the Prado. Its provenance traces back to a convent in Navarre, suggesting it may have been produced for the open market rather than a specific commission, a practice evident in several of David’s similar works on the same theme.
Context
Gerard David painted multiple versions of the Flight into Egypt, including variants now in New York, Washington, Antwerp, and Rotterdam. These works share a common compositional scheme—Virgin and Child enthroned before a forest—while differing in minor details, indicating a workshop approach to a popular devotional subject.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Gerard David (c. 1460 – 13 August 1523) was an Early Netherlandish painter and manuscript illuminator known for his brilliant use of color. Only a bare outline of his life survives, although some facts are known. He may…
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The Rest on the Flight into Egypt![The Saint Anne Altarpiece: Saint Anne with the Virgin and Child [middle panel], by Gerard David](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/gerard-david--the-saint-anne-altarpiece-saint-anne-with-the-virgin-and-chi--781e919f9012a004-w320.webp)
The Saint Anne Altarpiece: Saint Anne with the Virgin and Child [middle panel]
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