Artwork
Rest on the Flight into Egypt
Rest on the Flight into Egypt is an oil painting by the Flemish Baroque painting artist Jan Brueghel the Younger. It dates from 1626 and is held in the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum.
About this work
Overview
Jan Brueghel the Younger created the oil painting *Rest on the Flight into Egypt* in 1626. Executed in the Flemish Baroque style, the work portrays a quiet moment from the biblical journey of the Holy Family. It is part of the permanent collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna.
Subject & Meaning
The composition centers on a woman in a blue dress, seated beneath a leafy tree and cradling an infant, representing the Virgin Mary and the Christ child during their flight to Egypt. Though surrounded by a bustling riverside landscape, the figures convey a sense of serene contemplation, emphasizing divine calm amid worldly activity.
Technique & Style
Brueghel employs meticulous detail, rendering individual flowers, fruit, and the texture of fabric with fine brushwork. The painting shows a subtle use of glazing, layering translucent pigments to achieve depth in the sky and foliage. The overall palette balances soft, luminous light with richer, earth‑tone accents typical of Flemish Baroque realism.
History & Provenance
After its completion in the early 17th century, the canvas entered various private collections before being acquired by the Kunsthistorisches Museum, where it has remained on display. Its attribution to Jan Brueghel the Younger is supported by stylistic comparison with his other works from the same period.
Context
The piece reflects the period’s interest in integrating sacred narratives with detailed natural settings, a hallmark of the Brueghel family’s workshop. By combining a devotional subject with a lively landscape, the painting aligns with contemporary Flemish trends that sought to make biblical stories relatable through everyday surroundings.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Jan Brueghel (also Bruegel or Breughel) the Younger ( BROY-gəl, US also BROO-gəl; Dutch: ; 13 September 1601 – 1 September 1678) was a Flemish Baroque painter.
Rest on the Flight into Egypt
Rest on the Flight into Egypt
Rest on the Flight into Egypt
Rest on the Flight into Egypt
Rest on the Flight into Egypt
Rest on the Flight into Egypt
Rest on the flight into Egypt
Rest on the Flight into Egypt
Rest on the Flight into Egypt
Rest on the Flight into Egypt
Rest on the Flight into Egypt