The Angel Telling Joseph to Flee and the Flight into Egypt
1585
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1585
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
The Angel Telling Joseph to Flee and the Flight into Egypt is a 1585 ink by Adriaen Collaert, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This engraving shows a busy scene split into two halves. On the left, a family flees—Joseph carries a staff, Mary holds a child, and a donkey follows. On the right, a village with trees, houses, and people working in fields stretches toward distant mountains. A small figure climbs a tree, and another stands on a hillside, watching. The tiny details pack in stories: a woman grinds grain, a man plows, and a child plays near a well. The Latin text at the bottom hints at the biblical tale of Joseph’s dream warning him to escape. Next, look up engraving to see how artists like Collaert carved these sharp lines.
