Rest on the Flight into Egypt
- Artist: Paris Bordone
- Date: 1520 - 1530
- Medium: oil on canvas (transferred from panel)
- Museum: The Courtauld Gallery
- Collection record: The Courtauld Gallery website
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About this artwork
This is the Rest on the Flight into Egypt by Paris Bordone. It dates to the early 1520s‑1530s and was originally painted on panel before being transferred to canvas, a technique that helps us appreciate the delicate layering of oils. The scene captures the Holy Family pausing beneath a wide, leafy tree as they flee King Herod’s pursuit. The child, full of mischief, reaches for Joseph’s beard, while the donkey in the background calmly grazes, anchoring the composition in everyday life.
Bordone’s palette is soft, with earthy greens and warm browns that bring the landscape to life—an early example of how Renaissance artists began treating nature as more than a mere backdrop. The pastoral setting provides a soothing counterpoint to the tension of the flight, offering viewers a moment of tranquility. This painting exemplifies the period’s growing interest in natural scenery, foreshadowing the later elevation of landscape to independent subject matter.
See it in person
Rest on the Flight into Egypt hangs in The Courtauld Gallery at Somerset House, London. Point your phone at any artwork there and audioguide.london plays a free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
