Flight into Egypt

This work, a prime example of the decorative Baroque style, is the oldest of the five versions known painted by this artist.

It presents a dichotomy. Set at dusk, the lower part of the painting depicts Joseph, Virgin Mary on a donkey, and the Infant Jesus in her arms, fleeing to save their son. The colorful clouds and the landscape with trees exude great beauty. Meanwhile, in the upper part, a series of little angels emerge from a break in the clouds, depicted in a bold foreshortened perspective, profusely illuminated, and carrying flowers and sprigs of dates to feed the Holy Family.

This duality in the scene is also evident in the way the figures are depicted, on the one hand, the little angels are painted with greater freedom and more vibrant colors, while the other figures are rendered with pronounced modeling and elongated brushstrokes.