Who painted The Flight into Egypt?

The Flight into Egypt was painted by Lucas Gassel in 1545.

Where can I see The Flight into Egypt?

The Flight into Egypt is held by Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp.

What movement is The Flight into Egypt?

The Flight into Egypt is associated with Northern Renaissance.

The Flight into Egypt by Lucas Gassel (1545)

About this work

Subject & Meaning

Together these iconographic elements convey both the historical narrative of protection and the theological theme of divine guidance during exile.

The work portrays the biblical episode of the Holy Family’s escape to Egypt, a subject drawn from apocryphal tradition in which Joseph, Mary and the infant Jesus flee to escape King Herod’s massacre of the innocents. In the composition a lone mountain rises behind the trio, symbolising the obstacles of the journey, while a solitary tree functions as a conventional sign of divine shelter and providence. Together these iconographic elements convey both the historical narrative of protection and the theological theme of divine guidance during exile.

Technique & Style

Painted in oil on a single oak panel, the composition is executed in a meticulous, miniaturist manner typical of Northern Renaissance practice, with fine brushwork and a restrained palette dominated by earthy greens, ochres, and muted blues.

The handling balances detailed landscape passages with softer modeling of figures, particularly in the rendering of foliage and rocky outcrops. The figures of the Virgin and Child, though small in scale, are carefully modeled to convey gentle movement and quietude, while the donkey’s stance grounds the scene in naturalistic observation.

No significant condition issues are recorded, and the panel support remains stable, with the original ground and paint layer largely intact.

History & Provenance

The panel was painted by Lucas Gassel in 1545 as a rendering of the Flight into Egypt. The work entered the holdings of the Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp (KMSKA), part of the Flemish Art Collection, where it remains located. Its dimensions are 71 cm in height and 91 cm in width.

The painting The Flight into Egypt by Lucas Gassel is held in the collection of the Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp, part of the Vlaamse Kunstcollectie. Created in 1545, the work is executed in oil on panel and measures 71 cm in height by 91 cm in width. While the sources confirm the museum's custody and the artwork's physical dimensions, no specific inventory or accession number is provided in the available records. Additionally, the provided documentation does not list any past or current exhibition history for this piece.

Legacy

The Flight into Egypt by Lucas Gassel, painted in 1545, has been recognized for its compositional vigor and devotional intensity within the religious art of the Flemish Renaissance. Its depiction of a journey narrative influenced subsequent interpretations of the Holy Family in transit, shaping later artists' approaches to landscape and symbolic accompaniment. The work's presence in the Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp has allowed continued scholarly attention to its stylistic innovations and iconographic nuances.

Overview

Created in 1545, The Flight into Egypt is a painted panel by the Flemish artist Lucas Gassel. Executed during the Northern Renaissance, the work presents the biblical episode of the Holy Family’s escape from Herod, set within an expansive, meticulously rendered landscape. The painting is part of the collection of the Royal Museum of Fine Arts in Antwerp.

Landscape with Saint Jerome, Cornelis Massijs

Artist & collection

Artist

Lucas Gassel

Lucas Gassel or Lucas van Gassel (Deurne, c. 1485 – Brussels, 1568 or 1569) was a Flemish Renaissance painter and draughtsman known for his landscapes. He helped further develop and modernize the landscape tradition in…