Artwork
Rest on the Flight into Egypt with St Justine
Rest on the Flight into Egypt with St Justine is an oil painting by the Mannerist artist Lorenzo Lotto. It dates from 1529 and is held in the collection of the Hermitage Museum.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1529 by Lorenzo Lotto, this oil on canvas portrays a moment from the biblical Flight into Egypt, accompanied by Saint Justina of Padua. The composition gathers four figures beneath a leafy canopy, set against a tranquil landscape of water and hills. The work belongs to the collection of the State Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg.
Subject & Meaning
The scene combines the traditional narrative of the Holy Family’s escape with the presence of Saint Justina, a martyr venerated in Padua. The infant Jesus is cradled by a woman in blue and red, while an older male figure leans protectively nearby. A young girl, kneeling with a miniature church in her hands, suggests a symbolic guardianship over the journey.
Technique & Style
Lotto employs the oil medium to render delicate textures, from the foliage’s foliage to the luminous skin tones. The figures display slight elongation and expressive gestures characteristic of early Mannerist tendencies, while the overall composition retains the balanced spatial organization typical of the High Renaissance.
History & Provenance
After its completion, the painting entered private collections before being acquired by the State Hermitage Museum, where it remains on display. Its documented provenance traces a path from Italian patrons to Russian imperial holdings, reflecting the broader European interest in Lotto’s religious works during the 17th and 18th centuries.
Context
Lotto’s oeuvre often merged devotional subjects with personal narrative elements. By inserting Saint Justina—a local saint of Padua—into a biblical episode, the artist links regional cult devotion with universal Christian themes, a practice common among Renaissance painters seeking patronal relevance.
Artist & collection
Artist
Lorenzo Lotto (c. 1480 – 1556/57) was an Italian Renaissance painter, draughtsman, and illustrator, traditionally placed in the Venetian school, though much of his career was spent in other north Italian cities. He…
Rest on the Flight into Egypt
Rest on the Flight into Egypt
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