The Flight into Egypt

The Flight into Egypt, painted by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo between 1767 and 1770, is a masterful oil on canvas held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. This late work dates from Tiepolo’s final period in Madrid, where the renowned Venetian artist was completing major decorative commissions for the Spanish court. The canvas exemplifies the refined luminosity and vibrant coloration characteristic of 18th-century Venetian painting, executed with the swift, assured brushwork for which Tiepolo is famous.

The subject illustrates the biblical narrative of the Holy Family's escape from Herod. The Virgin Mary, holding the infant Jesus, is seated upon a sturdy Donkey, guided through the wilderness by Joseph. Surrounding the vulnerable travelers are numerous attendant Angels, who illuminate the scene and underscore the divine nature of their journey. Tiepolo skillfully balances the central figures with the dramatic landscape, incorporating imposing Mountains and dense Trees to emphasize the scale and danger of the route. Subtle elements, including distant Boats on water and various Birds in flight, add depth to the expansive natural setting.

As a significant example of the Rococo tradition, this piece demonstrates Tiepolo’s enduring mastery of both religious narrative and decorative art. While the original work remains a cornerstone of the Met’s extensive holdings, reproductions of this masterpiece are frequently found within the public domain. This accessibility allows scholars and art lovers globally to study the painting’s technique, and high-quality prints derived from the original image are widely available, securing the lasting cultural impact of this powerful depiction.