Artwork

Flight into Egypt: The Holy Family Passing under an Arch

Flight into Egypt:  The Holy Family Passing under an Arch, by Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo, 1752
Flight into Egypt:  The Holy Family Passing under an Arch, by Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo, 1752

Flight into Egypt: The Holy Family Passing under an Arch is a print by the Baroque artist Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo. It dates from 1752 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

Flight into Egypt: The Holy Family Passing under an Arch is a 1752 etching by Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo, representing a biblical scene in the religious genre. The work is part of The Cleveland Museum of Art's collection.

Subject & Meaning

The etching depicts the Holy Family's flight into Egypt, with key figures and elements: a bundled carrier, a lantern holder, and a child on an adult's back, conveying a sense of quiet, determined movement under a crumbling arch.

Technique & Style

Executed in black-and-white etching, the piece features meticulous shading to achieve depth, characteristic of 18th-century artistic practices. Intricate details, such as clothing textures and the lantern's handle, demonstrate Tiepolo's attention to nuance.

History & Provenance

Created in 1752 by Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo, son and pupil of Giovanni Battista Tiepolo, the etching is now held in The Cleveland Museum of Art's collection. Domenico was also a printmaker and the elder brother of Lorenzo Baldissera Tiepolo.

Context

While the etching's style aligns with 18th-century techniques, its dramatic and busy composition relates to the Baroque movement, though the overall tone here is more subdued than typically dramatic Baroque works.

Legacy

As a work by Domenico Tiepolo, it reflects the family's artistic lineage and contributions to religious art, though specific impact or notable exhibitions of this piece are not highlighted in available information.

Artist & collection

Portrait of Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo

Artist

Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo

Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo (August 30, 1727 – March 3, 1804) was an Italian painter and printmaker in etching. He was the son of artist Giovanni Battista Tiepolo and elder brother of Lorenzo Baldissera Tiepolo.

This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: Cleveland Museum of Art open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.