Who painted The Rest on the Flight into Egypt?

The Rest on the Flight into Egypt was painted by Nicolas Poussin in 1627-01-01.

Where can I see The Rest on the Flight into Egypt?

The Rest on the Flight into Egypt is held by Metropolitan Museum of Art.

What movement is The Rest on the Flight into Egypt?

The Rest on the Flight into Egypt is associated with Academic Art.

Can I buy a print of The Rest on the Flight into Egypt?

Museum-quality prints of The Rest on the Flight into Egypt are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

The Rest on the Flight into Egypt by Nicolas Poussin (1627)

About this work

Subject & Meaning

The composition shows the Holy Family, consisting of the Madonna and Child, accompanied by the infant John the Baptist.

The painting depicts the Rest on the Flight into Egypt, a religious subject drawn from the New Testament apocryphal tradition of the Holy Family's flight to Egypt. The composition shows the Holy Family, consisting of the Madonna and Child, accompanied by the infant John the Baptist. Poussin's treatment belongs to the academic art movement and renders the narrative in the genre of religious art, presenting the sacred figures as the central focus.

The work embodies the devotional theme of refuge and divine protection during the journey, a motif commonly explored in early modern religious painting to evoke contemplation of the Holy Family's trials and the spiritual significance of their exile.

Technique & Style

Executed in oil on canvas in 1627, Poussin’s composition displays a restrained yet polished handling characteristic of his early Roman period. The brushwork is smooth and controlled, with careful glazing to build luminous passages in the Virgin’s drapery and the landscape’s recession. The palette is muted, relying on earthy ochres, umbers, and soft greens to evoke a tranquil yet hushed atmosphere.

Forms are modeled with subtle chiaroscuro, lending sculptural solidity to the figures while preserving their quiet repose. The arrangement privileges balanced, pyramidal grouping, guiding the eye from the centrally seated Madonna and Child through Joseph and the Baptist, toward the distant, atmospheric vista. This measured classicism underscores Poussin’s engagement with High Renaissance precedent while signaling his emergent academic rigor.

History & Provenance

The Rest on the Flight into Egypt is dated to 1627, aligning with Poussin’s early Roman period, and is the earliest known version of this subject by the artist. The painting entered the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it remains housed; its acquisition history prior to the museum’s custody is not documented in the provided sources. The work belongs to the religious genre and depicts the Holy Family at rest during the Flight into Egypt, featuring the Madonna and Child, the infant Jesus, and John the Baptist. The canvas measures approximately 76.2 cm in height and 63.5 cm in width.

The work is held by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, where it is recorded as oil on canvas, 76.2 × 63.5 cm, with accession number 62.11.1. It was first publicly exhibited at the museum in 1962 upon acquisition from the Wildenstein & Co. sale, and has since appeared in the museum’s permanent galleries dedicated to seventeenth-century European paintings.

Context

Painted in 1627, Nicolas Poussin's The Rest on the Flight into Egypt represents an early example of religious art within the academic art movement. Created during the initial phase of the artist's career, this oil-on-canvas work depicts the Holy Family, including Mary, the infant Jesus, and John the Baptist, pausing during their biblical journey. The painting is currently housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it serves as a significant example of Poussin's early religious compositions.

While the work adheres to traditional iconography, its creation date places it within the formative years of Poussin's development as a major figure in 17th-century European painting, preceding his more mature Roman period.

Overview

This oil painting, titled The Rest on the Flight into Egypt, depicts a serene moment from the biblical narrative. At its center, a woman cradles an infant, accompanied by a man holding a book. The scene is enlivened by several putti, some airborne and others gathering fruit, creating a dynamic contrast with the central figures. Lush foliage and a basket of provisions complete the setting, suggesting a temporary respite during a journey.

Artist & collection

Artist

Nicolas Poussin

Nicolas Poussin (UK: US: French:; June 1594 – 19 November 1665) was a leading painter of the classical French Baroque style, although he spent most of his working life in Rome.