The Return of the Holy Family to Nazareth
1627
unspecified
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
1627
unspecified
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
You see a small family walking down a rocky path: Mary, Joseph, and a young Jesus holding a stick. Angels float above them, carrying a cross. This painting shows a rare moment—the Holy Family’s quiet return from Egypt after King Herod’s death. Most artists painted their flight, not the journey home. The cross in the sky hints at Jesus’s future, but the scene feels peaceful, like an ordinary family trip. Look up other works by Nicolas Poussin (French, 1594–1665) to see how he painted stories with calm, clear details.
