Artwork
Fuga para o Egipto
Fuga para o Egipto is an unspecified painting by the Mannerist artist Gregório Lopes. It dates from 1527 and is held in the collection of the National Museum of Ancient Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1527 by Portuguese painter Gregório Lopes, this religious canvas illustrates the biblical episode of the Flight into Egypt. Executed in oil on panel, the work is part of the collection of the National Museum of Ancient Art, where it remains on display as an example of early 16th‑century devotional art.
Subject & Meaning
The composition centers on the Virgin Mary seated on a donkey, cradling the infant Jesus, as they journey toward Egypt. A figure in red guides the animal, while angels and distant figures populate the sky, underscoring the divine protection afforded to the Holy Family during their exile.
Technique & Style
Lopes employs a vivid palette of blues, greens, and earth tones, rendering the landscape with palm trees, a distant city, and a bridge. The figures are delineated with clear contours, and the use of light creates a gentle contrast between the foreground procession and the atmospheric background.
History & Provenance
The painting entered the National Museum of Ancient Art’s holdings in the early 20th century, following acquisition from a private collection. Its provenance prior to that remains undocumented, but the work has been consistently identified as a product of Lopes’s mature period.
Context
Produced during the Portuguese Renaissance, the piece reflects the period’s emphasis on narrative clarity and devotional purpose. Lopes, a prominent court painter, often addressed biblical themes, and this work aligns with contemporary visual conventions that sought to make sacred stories accessible to lay viewers.
Artist & collection
