Anonymous‚ ‘Rest on the flight to Egypt‘, ca. 1800, oil on canvas, 37 x 45 cm.
A fresh catch, on auction today: the rest on the Flight to Egypt. Joseph reads a book in the shade of the tree, while Mary hold Christ on her lap. He is focused on two winged females, serving food and drinks. This refers to the miracles during their tour: not only should the holy family have traveled the distance of thirty travelling days within twenty-four hours, when famine stikes, Jesus makes a palm tree bending down, offering its fruits to Mary. Here the two putti pick the fruit from the trees. Afterwards the tree stretches out on his command, so fresh water concealed below it roots to flow freely.
The classical scene is set in an Italian landscape, yet the sphinx was used as a place marker: the family arrived in Egypt on their flight to save the sibling from King Herod’s threat to kill all young boys.