seated woman (Mary) in foreground holding baby (Jesus), handing him a small ball or fruit; man (Joseph) seated at right; winged figure seen from back reaching up into tree at left, accompanied by another figure

Rest on the Flight into Egypt, 1637-1639

Simone Cantariniexpand_more

Etchingexpand_more

Gift of James A. Bergquist, Boston, in honor of Rachel McGarryexpand_more  2021.69.10

Not on Viewexpand_more

According to the Gospel of Matthew, Herod planned to kill the infant Jesus, who had been identified as King of the Jews. At the urging of an angel, Joseph took his family and fled to Egypt. The account of the trip itself is short and vague: 

      "So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt,  where he stayed until the death of Herod." (Matthew 2:14-15)

That brevity left artists to fill the void with their imaginations. From the Middle-Ages on, those short verses led to countless interpretations. Simone Cantarini made no less than seven etchings depicting the family at rest during their wearying travels.

Cantarini was a largely self-taught artist who quickly absobed the style of other artists. As is evident in the present etching, he was especially interested in the work of Bolognese master Guido Reni and went to work in his studio. Cantarini's biogrpahers portray him as having poor interpersonal skills and a penchant for insubordination, which boiled over into conflict with Reni. Seeing the quietude of this etching, one would hardly suspect turbulence in his life.

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Details
Title
Rest on the Flight into Egypt
Artist Life
1612-1648
Role
Artist
Accession Number
2021.69.10
Catalogue Raisonne
Bartsch XIX.125.5 Nagler Kunstlerlexikon II.340 Heller-Andresen 2 LeBlanc 16 Bellini 19
Curator Approved

This record is from historic documentation and may not have been reviewed by a curator, so may be inaccurate or incomplete. Our records are frequently revised and enhanced. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@artsmia.org.

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seated woman (Mary) in foreground holding baby (Jesus), handing him a small ball or fruit; man (Joseph) seated at right; winged figure seen from back reaching up into tree at left, accompanied by another figure

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