Artwork
Landscape with the Rest on the Flight into Egypt
Landscape with the Rest on the Flight into Egypt is an oil painting by the Mannerist artist Master of the Female Half-Lengths. It dates from 1550 and is held in the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum.
About this work
Overview
Created around the middle of the sixteenth century, this oil painting by the anonymous Master of the Female Half‑Lengths portrays a quiet moment during the biblical Flight into Egypt. The composition centers on a seated Virgin and child, set within a gently rolling countryside that stretches toward a distant village. The work is part of the collection of Vienna’s Kunsthistorisches Museum.
Subject & Meaning
The scene illustrates the traditional Rest on the Flight into Egypt, a narrative moment when the Holy Family pauses during their escape. The Virgin and infant are placed on the ground amid foliage, while a standing male figure—likely Joseph—guards them. Approaching riders on the right suggest travelers or protectors, reinforcing the theme of divine refuge within a natural setting.
Technique & Style
The artist employs chiaroscuro to model forms, creating a subtle contrast between illuminated figures and shadowed landscape. Thick, textured brushwork gives the foliage and ground a palpable presence, while the overall palette of muted greens and earth tones contributes to a calm atmosphere. These methods combine to render depth and a tactile quality within the serene tableau.
History & Provenance
Attributed to the Master of the Female Half‑Lengths, an anonymous painter active in the mid‑1500s, the work entered the Kunsthistorisches Museum’s holdings in the early twentieth century. Its provenance prior to museum acquisition remains undocumented, reflecting the limited archival record typical for works by this elusive artist.
Artist & collection
Artist
Master of the Female Half-Lengths
The Master of the Female Half-Lengths is a notname coined by the German art historian Max J.
