Where can I see The Flight of Saint Elizabeth with the Infant Saint John?

The Flight of Saint Elizabeth with the Infant Saint John is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is The Flight of Saint Elizabeth with the Infant Saint John?

The Flight of Saint Elizabeth with the Infant Saint John is associated with Baroque.

Artwork

The Flight of Saint Elizabeth with the Infant Saint John

The Flight of Saint Elizabeth with the Infant Saint John is an ink print by the Baroque artist Balthasar Moncornet. It dates from 1634 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Created in 1634 by French artist Balthasar Moncornet, this engraving presents a religious tableau titled *The Flight of Saint Elizabeth with the Infant Saint John*. Executed in the print medium, the work captures a moment of urgent departure, set against a turbulent sky and distant vessel, and reflects the devotional themes common to 17th‑century Catholic art.

Subject & Meaning

The composition centers on Saint Elizabeth, cradling the infant John the Baptist, while a younger child clings to her side. Above them, winged angels hover, some bearing a protective canopy, suggesting divine assistance in the escape. The somber expression of the mother contrasts with the angels’ haste, underscoring themes of refuge and providential care amid danger.

Technique & Style

Moncornet employs delicate, intersecting lines to render chiaroscuro, giving depth to the figures and the storm‑filled backdrop. Fine hatching creates texture in the clouds, the ship on the horizon, and the drapery of the characters. The engraving’s precise line work highlights the artist’s skill in translating complex narrative detail into a monochrome print.

History & Provenance

Active in the early 1600s, Moncornet was known for portraits of notable contemporaries as well as religious subjects. This 1634 print was produced during his mature period, when he combined painterly sensibility with the technical demands of engraving. It circulated among devotional collectors in France and later entered museum collections as an example of Baroque printmaking.

Artist & collection

Artist

Balthasar Moncornet

Balthasar Moncornet (1600, Rouen – 1668, Paris) was a French painter, engraver, and tapissier revered for his depictions of around 45 different prominent figures of the 17th century.