Artwork
Rest on the Flight into Egypt

Rest on the Flight into Egypt is an oil painting by the French Classical Baroque artist Claude Lorrain. It dates from 1640 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The painting shows the Holy Family taking shelter during their Flight into Egypt, a biblical narrative of Mary, Joseph, and the infant Jesus seeking refuge.
The painting shows the Holy Family taking shelter during their Flight into Egypt, a biblical narrative of Mary, Joseph, and the infant Jesus seeking refuge. In this work Claude Lorrain renders a quiet pause amid the journey, emphasizing the family's vulnerability and divine protection. The composition includes a rugged mountain and a leafy tree, elements that symbolize both the hardships of the pilgrimage and the natural sanctuary offered by God.
As a religious artwork from 1640, the piece conveys a moment of rest that underscores spiritual guardianship and the fulfillment of prophecy within the sacred narrative.
Technique & Style
The work is executed in oil on canvas, measuring roughly 208 cm by 152.5 cm, and was painted in France in 1640. Lorrain’s handling is characterized by a luminous atmospheric treatment and a balanced composition that places the holy family on a gentle slope amid a landscape of trees and a distant mountain, a motif he frequently revisited. The canvas support is primed and the paint applied in thin, blended layers that create a soft, diffused light across the scene.
As a religious painting in the classical landscape genre, the piece demonstrates the artist’s mastery of spatial depth and chiaroscuro, contributing to its well‑preserved condition within the Cleveland Museum of Art’s collection.
History & Provenance
The painting titled Rest on the Flight into Egypt was created by the French artist Claude Lorrain in 1640. Executed in oil on canvas, the work measures 208.0 cm in height and 152.5 cm in width. It depicts the biblical narrative of the Flight into Egypt, featuring religious iconography set against a landscape with mountains and trees.
The artwork is currently held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it is cataloged under the accession number 1962.151. While the specific commissioning patron and the detailed chain of ownership prior to its arrival at the museum are not detailed in the available records, the work's creation date is firmly established as 1640, originating from France.
Claude Lorrain's oil painting Rest on the Flight into Egypt, completed in 1640, is currently held in the permanent collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art in Cleveland, Ohio. The work, executed on canvas, bears the museum's accession number 1962.151. While the painting depicts a religious scene featuring mountains and trees, the provided records do not list specific past exhibitions or a detailed chronological history of its display prior to its acquisition by the museum in 1962.
The artwork remains part of the institution's holdings, representing the artist's French origin and his engagement with biblical narratives during the mid-seventeenth century.
Overview
This oil painting, titled "Rest on the Flight into Egypt", presents a tranquil landscape scene. It depicts a group of figures gathered on a riverbank, set against a backdrop of natural elements. The composition evokes a sense of calm, with a gentle river meandering through the environment and a soft sky overhead. The work invites contemplation of its serene setting and the narrative it portrays.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Claude Lorrain (French:; born Claude Gellée, called le Lorrain in French; traditionally just Claude in English; c.


















