Artwork
The Flight into Egypt
The Flight into Egypt is a print by the Renaissance artist Martin Schongauer. It dates from 1472 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
The Flight into Egypt is a print by Martin Schongauer, depicting a scene from an apocryphal gospel. It is part of a set of four engravings illustrating episodes from the Life of the Virgin.
Subject & Meaning
The scene shows the Virgin Mary on a donkey, holding the infant Jesus, with a palm tree above them. Five angels pull down the tree's branches to allow Joseph to gather dates, illustrating a miraculous event from the apocryphal Gospel of Pseudo-Matthew.
Technique & Style
The print employs chiaroscuro, using strong contrasts between light and dark to create a sense of depth and atmosphere. The composition is characterized by a sense of quiet intimacy, with the figures arranged in a naturalistic and relaxed manner.
History & Provenance
The print is one of a set of four engravings, which also include The Nativity, The Adoration of the Magi, and The Death of the Virgin, suggesting an incomplete series on the Life of the Virgin.
Artist & collection
Artist
Martin Schongauer, also known as Martin Schön or Hübsch Martin by his contemporaries, was an Alsatian engraver and painter.
