Flight into Egypt

Artist Luca Giordano (Italian, 1634-1705)

Datelate 1690s

CultureItalian

MediumOil on canvas

ClassificationPaintings

ProvenancePossibly John Manners (1696–1779), 3rd Duke of Rutland, Belvoir Castle, Grantham, Leicestershire, or possibly Charles Manners (1754–1787), 4th Duke of Rutland, Belvoir Castle, Grantham, Leicestershire; by inheritance to his son, John Henry Manners (1778–1857), 5th Duke of Rutland, Belvoir Castle, Grantham, Leicestershire; by inheritance to his son, Charles Cecil John Manners (1815–1888), 6th Duke of Rutland, Belvoir Castle, Grantham, Leicestershire; by inheritance to his brother, John James Robert Manners (1818–1906), 7th Duke of Rutland, Belvoir Castle, Grantham, Leicestershire; by inheritance to his son, Henry John Brinsley Manners (1852–1925), 8th Duke of Rutland, Belvoir Castle, Grantham, Leicestershire; by inheritance to his son, John Henry Montagu Manners (1886–1940), 9th Duke of Rutland, Belvoir Castle, Grantham, Leicestershire; (sold Rutland sale, Christie’s, London, 16 April 1926, lot 16, for £37–16s); (Max Rothschild, Sackville Gallery, London); John Ringling (1866–1936), Sarasota, Florida; bequest in 1936 to the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, Sarasota, Florida.

Credit LineBequest of John Ringling, 1936

Object numberSN157

The Neapolitan painter Luca Giordano executed this work in Madrid while in the employ of the Hapsburg King Charles II of Spain, who appointed him court painter in 1694. The tender expression of the Madonna's face and the softened, earthy palette suggest the influence of Murillo. According to the Gospel of Matthew, an angel urged the Holy Family to flee Jerusalem, as King Herod was plotting a massacre with the aim of killing the Christ child. The central action of the painting takes place almost entirely in the foreground, psychologically engaging the viewer.

On View

On view

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