Who painted The Rest on the Flight into Egypt?

The Rest on the Flight into Egypt was painted by Paul Troger in 1721.

Where can I see The Rest on the Flight into Egypt?

The Rest on the Flight into Egypt is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is The Rest on the Flight into Egypt?

The Rest on the Flight into Egypt is associated with Baroque.

Can I buy a print of The Rest on the Flight into Egypt?

Museum-quality prints of The Rest on the Flight into Egypt are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

The Rest on the Flight into Egypt

Paul Troger , 1721

The Rest on the Flight into Egypt is an ink print by the Baroque artist Paul Troger. It dates from 1721 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Created in 1721, *The Rest on the Flight into Egypt* is an Austrian Baroque print by Paul Troger. Executed as an etching with roulette on laid paper, the work translates the artist’s characteristic handling of light and form from his large‑scale frescoes into a more intimate, graphic medium.

Subject & Meaning

The image portrays the biblical episode in which the Virgin Mary, Joseph, and the infant Jesus pause during their journey to Egypt. The figures are shown in a moment of fatigue, sheltered beneath foliage, emphasizing the human vulnerability of the Holy Family amid divine providence.

Technique & Style

Troger employed a fine etched line combined with roulette‑created tonal textures, producing a densely woven surface that suggests both the tangled vegetation and the restless atmosphere. The contrast of crisp outlines with soft, stippled shading reflects his Baroque interest in chiaroscuro and kinetic composition.

History & Provenance

The print was issued during Troger’s mature period, when his ceiling frescoes were shaping Austrian artistic taste. Though primarily known for monumental works, this print demonstrates his versatility in printmaking, a practice that continued to influence Austrian painters into the late eighteenth century.