Painted canvas (imitating tapestry), "The Flight into Egypt", 19th century

- Tapestry-like painted canvas of the "Flight into Egypt", a 19th-century painting based on an 18th-century model

- This painted canvas relates a passage from the Gospel according to Matthew (Mt 2, 13-23) "The Flight into Egypt", an event reported by the evangelist along with the massacre of the Innocents.
An angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, "Arise, take the child and his mother, flee to Egypt and stay there until I speak to you, for Herod will seek the child to destroy him. So Joseph got up, took the child and his mother by night, and fled to Egypt."

- The painting is carefully composed, with a group of figures at the center of the scene. This is Mary dressed in a blue cloak, holding the haloed infant Jesus against her, seated on the donkey whose harness guide is held by a cherub who leads the way. Accompanying the group are Joseph and the angel Gabriel, whose forward posture and flowing hair set the donkey in motion. Two angels in the air, holding flowers, witness the journey of the Holy Family. All eyes are riveted on Mary and the infant Jesus. These figures are painted with great precision and finesse. The same is true of the architectural elements and vegetation. The delicate flowers in the foreground echo the Virgin's tender face. The decor is embellished by rocky elements on the left and ancient ruins on the right; an acephalous sculpture, dotted on the hips, calls out to the viewer.

- This canvas offers a beautiful harmony of light tones juxtaposed with more vivid warm (orange, yellow, red) and cool (blue, green) hues. A palette that, like the delicacy of the drawing, brings softness, comfort and hope to a painful episode.

- A border adds to the decorative aspect of the piece, imitating the frame of a painting. The canvas is signed in the lower right "LE CLERC".

- This type of painting on canvas belongs to a production traditionally known as "painted tapestries". These are paintings imitating tapestries on textile canvas. Born as an alternative to tapestry, painted canvas shares many common characteristics, such as the ability to create a monumental setting whose large dimensions enable the artist to propose a rich, meticulous composition.

- Dimensions: Width: 164.5 cm Height: 228 cm

Ref: YOTJD1NNI8