Artwork
Paisaje con barcos, pescadores y la Huida a Egipto
Paisaje con barcos, pescadores y la Huida a Egipto is an oil painting by the Early Baroque Italian artist Giovanni Francesco Grimaldi. It dates from 1601 and is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The boat functions as a symbolic vessel carrying the divine family, linking the ordinary labor of fishermen to the sacred journey.
The painting shows a coastal scene with fishermen and a boat that alludes to the Holy Family’s flight into Egypt, blending everyday maritime activity with biblical narrative. The boat functions as a symbolic vessel carrying the divine family, linking the ordinary labor of fishermen to the sacred journey. This iconographic fusion reflects Counter‑Reformation interests in portraying biblical stories within contemporary settings, emphasizing both spiritual and social themes.
Technique & Style
The work is executed in oil paint on canvas, a format typical of early Baroque easel painting. It measures 119 cm in height by 168 cm in width, reflecting the modest scale often employed for devotional or decorative purposes in the early 17th century. The brushwork demonstrates a restrained handling of light and atmospheric depth, while the compositional arrangement of boats and fishermen foregrounds narrative immediacy.
These stylistic choices align with Grimaldi’s documented activity in the Spanish court, where he produced works blending naturalistic detail with a softened, lyrical tonality.
History & Provenance
The painting was created in 1601 by Giovanni Francesco Grimaldi, executed in oil on canvas. It subsequently entered the Spanish royal collection, becoming owned by Philip V of Spain. The work is now held by the Museo del Prado, where it remains part of the museum's holdings.
The canvas measures 119 cm in height by 168 cm in width.
Overview
Paisaje con barcos, pescadores y la Huida a Egipto is a painting created by Giovanni Francesco Grimaldi in 1601 using oil paint. It is an example of early Baroque Italian art and is held in the Museo del Prado's collection.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Giovanni Francesco Grimaldi (1606 – 28 November 1680) was an Italian painter, draughtsman, printmaker and architect. He was an accomplished fresco painter of classical landscapes which were popular with leading Roman families.
- Landscape with River and Boats
Landschaft mit Hirten
Landscape with the Holy Family and the Infant Saint John the Baptist
The Rest on the Flight into Egypt
The Baptism of Christ, Set in a Mountainous Landscape
Landscape with Tobias and the Angel
River Landscape with View of St. Peter's Basilica
Landscape with a River and Aqueduct
