Artwork
Flight into Egypt
Flight into Egypt is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Giovanni Battista Tiepolo. It dates from 1500 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts the biblical scene of the Holy Family fleeing to Egypt, a moment symbolizing divine protection and the fulfillment of prophecy.
The painting depicts the biblical scene of the Holy Family fleeing to Egypt, a moment symbolizing divine protection and the fulfillment of prophecy. This subject is drawn from the Gospel of Matthew and commonly used in Christian art to illustrate themes of refuge and divine guidance. The work belongs to the religious genre and reflects Rococo stylistic qualities through its dynamic composition and ornamental detail.
It is housed in the Rijksmuseum collection and measures 68 cm in height by 101 cm in width.
Technique & Style
The work is executed in oil paint on canvas, a support typical of 16th-century Italian religious paintings. Its composition employs the Rococo movement’s characteristic lightness and decorative dynamism, while the handling of brushwork and subtle tonal transitions contribute to a refined, atmospheric rendering of the biblical subject. The formal qualities include a balanced spatial arrangement, delicate color modulation, and a graceful treatment of figures that exemplify Tiepolo’s mature style.
The painting measures 68 cm in height and 101 cm in width.
History & Provenance
The painting Flight into Egypt was created by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo in 1500 as an oil on canvas work. It is classified as a religious painting within the Rococo movement. The work is part of the Rijksmuseum's collection and has remained in the museum's custody since its acquisition. Dimensions are recorded as 68 cm in height and 101 cm in width.
The painting is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum, as recorded in its Wikidata entry. The work is catalogued as part of that museum's holdings, with no separate inventory or accession number provided in the available sources.
No exhibition history is documented for this work in the sources supplied.
Overview
Giovanni Battista Tiepolo’s oil on canvas titled Flight into Egypt dates from 1500 and is part of the Rijksmuseum’s collection. The work depicts a biblical escape scene rendered with the lightness and decorative flair typical of the Rococo period, emphasizing graceful movement and luminous color.
Context
Flight into Egypt belongs to the broader Rococo movement, which favored airy compositions and decorative elegance. Within Tiepolo’s oeuvre, the work exemplifies his skill in integrating narrative drama with ornamental detail, a balance that appealed to 18th‑century patrons seeking both spiritual and aesthetic satisfaction.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Giovanni Battista Tiepolo, also known as Giambattista Tiepolo, was an Italian painter and printmaker from the Republic of Venice who painted in the Rococo style, considered an important member of the 18th-century Venetian school.
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