Artwork
The Flight with the Holy Family at the Left
The Flight with the Holy Family at the Left is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo. It dates from 1753 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo’s 1753 etching titled *The Flight with the Holy Family at the Left* presents a nocturnal, storm‑laden landscape in which a woman and child, mounted on a donkey, hurry away from an unseen threat. A dark figure in the rear raises an arm, suggesting warning or pursuit, while distant trees, a town silhouette, and a turbulent sky frame the composition.
Subject & Meaning
The image interprets the biblical episode of the Holy Family’s escape to Egypt, emphasizing urgency and peril. The raised arm of the figure behind them adds tension, implying the danger that prompted the flight. By placing the family on the left side of the picture plane, Tiepolo directs the viewer’s eye across the scene, reinforcing the narrative of movement and divine protection.
Technique & Style
Executed in etching, the work relies on fine cross‑hatching and varied line density to model volume and atmospheric depth. Rapid, textured strokes delineate the donkey’s fur and the woman’s drapery, while broader, slashing lines suggest the stormy sky. The overall sketch‑like quality conveys immediacy, allowing the viewer to sense the frantic motion and emotional intensity of the moment.
History & Provenance
Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo, an Italian painter and printmaker, produced this print in the mid‑18th century. He was the son of the celebrated Giovanni Battista Tiepolo and the elder brother of Lorenzo Baldissera Tiepolo, situating the work within a family renowned for both painting and printmaking. The etching remains documented as part of his output of religious subjects during the 1750s.
Artist & collection
Artist
Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo (August 30, 1727 – March 3, 1804) was an Italian painter and printmaker in etching. He was the son of artist Giovanni Battista Tiepolo and elder brother of Lorenzo Baldissera Tiepolo.
The Flight, Holy Family at the Right, Joseph Looking to the Left
The Flight with the Holy Family at the Right
The Flight, Joseph at Right and Mary and Angel at Left
Flight into Egypt: The Holy Family Approaching a Village
The Flight, Holy Family Walking with Angel
Flight into Egypt: The Holy Family Leaving the Shore
The Flight, Holy Family Walking with Angel
Flight into Egypt: The Holy Family Passing near a Pyramid
Flight into Egypt: The Holy Family, Disembarking
The Rest on the Flight, with Holy Family under a Tree
Flight into Egypt: The Holy Family Arriving at the Bank of the River
Flight into Egypt: The Holy Family Passing under an Arch