Flight into Egypt
Technical details
Description
The Flight into Egypt by José Moreno, an artist from Madrid who worked in the High Baroque style, is the oldest of the five versions known to have been painted by this artist, and is thought to date from 1666. Set at dusk, Saint Joseph leads the way, followed by the Virgin Mary on a donkey, holding the Infant Jesus in her arms. There is great beauty in the coloured clouds and landscape with trees. Daringly foreshortened angels float in a burst of glory; they carry flowers and branches filled with dates to feed the Holy Family, fleeing to save the Infant Jesus from the killing of the first-born sons of the Jewish people decreed by King Herod. There is pronounced modelling of the figures and the brushstrokes are lengthened, except in the upper part where the angels are painted more freely and in brighter colours.