Rest on the Flight into Egypt (Barocci)

Rest on the Flight into Egypt is an oil on canvas painting by Italian painter Federico Barocci, created c. 1573. It is held in the Pinacoteca Vaticana.^[1]

Rest on the Flight into Egypt
Artist	Federico Barocci
Year	c. 1573
Medium	Oil on canvas
Dimensions	133 cm × 110 cm (52 in × 43 in)
Location	Vatican Museums, Vatican

Description

The painting depicts an episode from the early life of Jesus, the Rest on the Flight into Egypt, a usual subject in Catholic art. The scene is shown from a simple and familiar point of view so as to invite devotion among the faithful. In the center, the Virgin Mary, who is seated, draws water. Behind her, Joseph holds out a branch with a few cherries from a tree to Jesus. The straw hat, the flask, the food bag and the donkey, at the right, contribute to create an atmosphere of intimacy. The presence of cherries, however, are a symbol prefiguring the Passion of Christ.^[2][3]