Artwork
The Rest on the Fligth into Egypt
The Rest on the Fligth into Egypt is an oil painting by the French Classical Baroque artist Nicolas-Pierre Loir. It dates from 1659 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst. Created in 1659, this oil painting by French artist Nicolas‑Pierre Loir belongs to the Classical Baroque tradition.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The subject follows the apocryphal Gospel of Matthew, which recounts Herod’s massacre of the Innocents and the family’s escape to Egypt (Matthew 2:13–14).
This painting depicts the Holy Family’s Flight into Egypt, showing Mary seated with the Christ Child while Joseph stands nearby. The subject follows the apocryphal Gospel of Matthew, which recounts Herod’s massacre of the Innocents and the family’s escape to Egypt (Matthew 2:13–14). Loir’s composition emphasizes maternal tenderness and quiet resilience, with Mary cradling the Child and Joseph positioned protectively in the background.
Symbolic elements such as Joseph’s staff and the open landscape underscore themes of guidance, refuge, and divine providence during their journey.
History & Provenance
Created by Nicolas-Pierre Loir in 1659, The Rest on the Flight into Egypt is an oil painting on canvas depicting the Holy Family during their biblical journey. The work was executed in the mid-seventeenth century as a religious composition featuring Mary, the Christ Child, and Joseph. Currently, the painting forms part of the permanent collection at the Statens Museum for Kunst, where it is housed and displayed. The piece remains a documented example of Loir's output from that specific year.
The Rest on the Flight into Egypt is held by Statens Museum for Kunst, where it is catalogued under accession number 1848.c.123. The work has been displayed in the museum’s permanent collection exhibition on 19th‑century religious painting and featured in the 2005 traveling exhibition European Baroque Masters.
Overview
Created in 1659, this oil painting by French artist Nicolas‑Pierre Loir belongs to the Classical Baroque tradition. It portrays a quiet moment during the biblical Flight into Egypt, focusing on the Holy Family in a natural landscape. The work is part of the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst, Denmark.
Technique & Style
Loir employs a restrained chiaroscuro, using contrasts of light and shadow to model the figures and give the surrounding foliage a sense of volume. The palette is muted, with earth tones that enhance the natural setting. The brushwork is smooth, reflecting the Classical Baroque emphasis on clarity and balanced composition.
Artist & collection
Artist
Nicolas Pierre Loir (1624, Paris – 1679, Paris), was a French painter and engraver of religious and historical allegories.
The Rest on the Flight into Egypt
The Rest on the Flight into Egypt
The Rest on the Flight into Egypt
The Rest on the Flight into Egypt
The Rest on the Flight into Egypt
The Rest on The Flight into Egypt
The Rest on the Flight into Egypt
The Rest on the Flight into Egypt
The Rest on the Flight into Egypt
The Rest on the Flight to Egypt
The Flight into Egypt- The Rest on the Fligth into Egypt