The rest on the flight into Egypt

Art Historical Context

In the tranquil scene of *The Rest on the Flight into* (1597), engraver Francesco Villamenafully reproduces a design by Girolamo Muz, capturing the Holy Family's momentary pause during their perilous escape from King Herod's massacre of the innocents, as recounted in the Gospel of Matthew. This intimate biblical episode, popular in Renaissance art, symbolizes divine protection and maternal tenderness, with Mary cradling the Christ Child amid a lush landscape. Created during the Mannerist period in Rome, the work reflects the era's emphasis on graceful figures and refined details, hallmarks of Muziano's elegant style as a painter and draftsman. Villamena's engraving technique—using a burin to incise fine lines into a copper plate—allowed for precise tonal gradations and widespread dissemination of sacred imagery, vital during the Counter-Reformation when the Catholic Church promoted devotional art to inspire faith. Measuring just 8 1/16 × 5 11/16 inches, this trimmed sheet exemplifies the portability of prints, making high art accessible beyond elite patrons. Acquired through the Harris Brisbane Dick Fund in 1953, it resides in The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department, a testament to the enduring appeal of these collaborative reproductive masterpieces.

About the Artist

Girolamo Muziano|Francesco Villamena · 1528–1592

Italian, Acquafredda, Brescia 1528–1592 Rome