Artwork
Mary and Joseph find no lodgings in Bethlehem
Mary and Joseph find no lodgings in Bethlehem is an oil painting by the Early Baroque Italian artist Jan Matsys. It dates from 1558 and is held in the collection of the Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
Jan Matsys's 1558 oil painting illustrates the biblical narrative of Mary and Joseph arriving in Bethlehem and failing to secure lodging.
Jan Matsys's 1558 oil painting illustrates the biblical narrative of Mary and Joseph arriving in Bethlehem and failing to secure lodging. The composition explicitly depicts the holy couple, identifying them through traditional iconography within the setting of the town. Visual details include Joseph wearing a hat, a common attribute in Netherlandish depictions of the saint.
As a work of religious art, the panel represents the moment preceding the Nativity, emphasizing the humility and rejection experienced by the figures before the birth of Jesus.
Technique & Style
Executed in 1558, this religious painting by Jan Matsys utilizes oil paint applied to a wooden panel support. The work measures 62 cm in height and 28.3 cm in width, presenting a vertical format characteristic of devotional imagery from the period. As a piece of religious art, the composition depicts the biblical narrative of Mary and Joseph seeking shelter in Bethlehem, featuring specific iconographic elements such as hats worn by the figures.
The material combination of oil and panel was a standard medium for Netherlandish painters of the sixteenth century, allowing for the detailed rendering of the scene's narrative elements.
Overview
Jan Matsys, a Flemish painter of the mid‑16th century, completed the oil painting Mary and Joseph find no lodgings in Bethlehem in 1558. The work portrays the biblical episode of the Holy Family’s search for shelter in Bethlehem and is part of the Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp’s collection.
History & Provenance
Created in 1558, the canvas entered the collection of the Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp, where it remains on display. Its acquisition history is documented through the museum’s records, confirming its continuous presence in the institution since the early 20th century.
Context
Matsys, known for both history paintings and genre scenes, often blended religious subjects with everyday life. This work exemplifies that synthesis, placing a biblical moment within a recognizable Flemish street setting, a practice that aligns with the broader Renaissance interest in grounding sacred stories in contemporary reality.
Artist & collection
Artist
Jan Matsys or Jan Massijs (c.1510 – 8 October 1575) was a Flemish Renaissance painter known for his history paintings, genre scenes and landscapes.
- Saint Catherine of Alexandria Preaching to the Emperor
The Presentation and Marriage of the Virgin, and the Annunciation
The Visitation
Christ taking leave of his Mother.
Meeting of Mary and Elisabeth
The fifteen secrets of the rosary: the Visitation
Visitation
Adoration of the Magi
Casamento da Virgem
Visitation
Saints Roch, Anthony Abbot and Lucy
The Meeting at the Golden Gate