About this artwork
The flight into Egypt—a common subject in European art—refers to an episode in the life of Christ when his family fled King Herod, who sought to kill the infant Jesus. Abraham van Diepenbeeck made the theme his own by including an angel and the inquisitive cow at bottom right. This panel was not intended to be a finished painting; it is instead a grisaille (monochrome grey) oil sketch, which was then translated into an engraving. Collaborating with printmakers could be lucrative for painters while also providing an opportunity to advertise their artistry more widely.
-
Status
- On View, Gallery 208
-
Department
- Painting and Sculpture of Europe
-
Artist
- Abraham Jansz. van Diepenbeeck
-
Title
- The Flight into Egypt
-
Place
- Flanders (Artist's nationality:)
-
Date
- 1640–1660
-
Medium
- Oil on panel
-
Dimensions
- 43.8 × 31.8 cm (17 1/4 × 12 1/2 in.); Framed: 64.8 × 53.4 × 10.2 cm (25 1/2 × 21 × 4 in.)
-
Credit Line
- Gift of Mrs. Michael W. Straus in memory of Michael Straus
-
Reference Number
- 1963.44
-
IIIF Manifest
- https://api.artic.edu/api/v1/artworks/16497/manifest.json
Extended information about this artwork
Object information is a work in progress and may be updated as new research findings emerge. To help improve this record, please email . Information about image downloads and licensing is available here.